[Changes of hemorrheology in COPD patients with or without cor pulmonale]

Parameters of hemorrheology such as whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, hematocrit and red blood cell electrophoretic time were measured in 34 COPD patients with or without cor pulmonale, and the pulmonary arterial pressure was simultaneously examined. The results showed that the whole blood viscosity and hematocrit in cor pulmonale group were obviously higher than COPD group which suggested the changes of hemorrheology was much obvious in patients with cor pulmonale than those in COPD patients. Meanwhile, a statistically significant correlation was obtained between whole blood viscosity and pulmonary arterial mean pressure. Thus, we suggest blood viscosity has a certain effect on the pulmonary arterial pressure.