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The Role of Blood Viscosity in Infectious Diseases
Gregory D Sloop1, Quirijn De Mast2, Gheorghe Pop3
1Pathology, Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, Meridian, USA.
Cureus
|April 1, 2020
Summary
Elevated blood viscosity, caused by inflammation or malaria, increases risks for blood clots and heart attack. Anemia can be beneficial by improving blood flow in these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Pathophysiology
- Hematology
Background:
- Inflammation and certain diseases elevate blood viscosity through increased plasma viscosity and red blood cell aggregation.
- Decreased red blood cell deformability, seen in malaria, also raises blood viscosity.
- Increased blood viscosity is linked to myocardial infarction, venous thrombosis, and venous thromboembolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the mechanisms by which blood viscosity is altered in disease states.
- To understand the physiological consequences of increased blood viscosity.
- To elucidate the role of anemia in mitigating the effects of high blood viscosity.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on blood rheology in inflammatory and infectious conditions.
- Analysis of physiological responses to increased vascular resistance.
- Examination of the relationship between blood viscosity, tissue perfusion, and anemia.
Main Results:
- Elevated acute phase reactants and hypergammaglobulinemia increase blood viscosity.
- Increased blood viscosity elevates vascular resistance, reduces tissue perfusion, and triggers compensatory mechanisms.
- These compensatory responses lead to anemias associated with chronic diseases, which may paradoxically improve tissue perfusion.
Conclusions:
- Blood viscosity is a critical factor in the pathophysiology of several serious conditions.
- The body's compensatory mechanisms for high blood viscosity can result in anemia.
- Anemia may serve a protective role by enhancing tissue perfusion when blood flow is compromised by high viscosity.
Keywords:
acute phase responseanemia of chronic diseaseatherosclerosisatherothrombosisblood viscosityhemorheologyinfectioninflammationmyocardial infarctionthrombosisMore Related Videos
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