[Rheological disorders in rheumatoid arthritis with systemic manifestations]

A rise in blood viscosity with low rates of the shift which hinders the blood flow in minor vessels was revealed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Hemorheological disorders are closely connected with clinical features of RA. Thus, a rise in blood viscosity, enhancement of the aggregation activity of erythrocytes and thrombocytes were most marked in patients with systemic manifestations and high laboratory activity. When investigating the system of hemostasis in patients with RA accompanied by systemic manifestations, the authors noted a tendency to blood hypercoagulation which closely correlated with the rise in blood viscosity. The degree of markedness of hemorheological disorders in RA depends on immunological shifts. Hyperviscosity of the blood in patients with systemic manifestations was considerably attributable to the presence in the blood of pathological immune complexes with a sedimentation constant of 10S-18S, 22S or their combinations. Thus, hemorheological disorders and blood viscosity as the main indices represent an important link of RA pathogenesis closely associated with the autoimmune and immune complex processes determining the development of vasculitis and progress of RA.