Rheological and clotting changes in chronic cor pulmonale

53 patients with chronic or pulmonale and hospitalized for the occurrence of acute dyspnea were studied. The mean age was 67. The increase in blood and plasma viscosities is higher than the rise in hematocrit, total plasma proteins and fibrinogen. The levels of plasminogen and antithrombin III are significantly lower and the plasma euglobulin lysis time is shortened. On the contrary, fibrinogen levels are normal or near normal. This seems to confirm the frequent presence of clotting changes in chronic cor pulmonale facilitated by an altered pulmonary rheology.