Effects of blood viscosity on plasma renin activity and renal hemodynamics

The effects of alterations in apparent blood viscosity on renal hemodynamics and plasma renin activity (PRA) were studied in dogs anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital. Blood viscosity was altered isovolemically either by changes in hematocrit (Hct) or by an increase in plasma viscosity (dextran administration). Arterial blood pressure and renal blood flow (RBF) remained relatively constant when apparent blood viscosity was elevated by changes in Hct or plasma viscosity. Thus the hyperviscosity of blood was associated with a decrease of renal vascular hindrance, resulting in an essentially unchanged renal flow resistance. The decrease in renal vascular hindrance may result from renal vasodilation. In hyperviscosity induced with dextran, the increase in PRA correlates linearly with the decrease in renal vascular hindrance, with a coefficient of correlation of 0.968 (P less than 0.005). The increase in PRA that resulted when Hct was raised from 25 to 55% also can be correlated linearly with the decrease in renal vascular hindrance, with a coefficient of correlation of 0.953 (P less than 0.005). These results suggest that the decrease in renal vascular hindrance in response to a rise in apparent blood viscosity leads to an increase in PRA.