[Effect of ultra-high frequency electromagnetic energy on the rheologic properties of the blood]

The effect of microwave radiation with the range of 8 mm (80 mVt/cm2) on rheologic blood properties was studied on 150 random-bred rats. The animals were irradiated for 5 hours a day during 3 days. It was established that the animals developed the syndrome of elevated blood viscosity. Blood hyperviscosity was detected by rotation and ultrasound viscosimeters both under low and high shift frequencies. Hematocritic index underwent no changes in exposed rats. The study revealed that microwave-induced elevation of blood viscosity was primarily caused not by hemoconcentration but by a significant decrease in erythrocyte deformability and increase in stability of the erythrocytic aggregate. Membrane damage was assumed to be one of the causes of the changes in erythrocyte rheologic properties. That assumption was confirmed by the data on the decrease of erythrocyte mechanical resistance following the exposure to microwave radiation.