[Changes in hemorrheology induced by the alpha-lytic drug thymoxamine]

The hemorheological findings obtained from a study employing an infusion of thymoxamine in saline solution and after the addition of the same drug to blood samples in vitro are reported. The hemorheological changes observed in vivo (decrease of both hematocrit and blood viscosity at shear rates of 23 and 230 sec-1) are not seen in vitro. From these data it is possible to conclude that such modifications produced by thymoxamine in vivo are more likely due to its alpha-blocking action than to a direct hemorheological activity of this drug.