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Updated: Sep 11, 2026

In Vitro Model of Physiological and Pathological Blood Flow with Application to Investigations of Vascular Cell Remodeling
Published on: November 3, 2015
[Effect of prostacyclin on erythrocyte deformability and blood viscosity]
Abstract:
The aim of our research was to investigate the effect of prostacyclin (PGI2) on red blood cell deformability and blood viscosity. Ten non-smokers healthy subjects (aged from 25 to 40) were examined. Different PGI2 concentrations were added to the blood sample and then red blood cell deformability and blood viscosity were measured: 1.2 and 2.4 ng/ml PGI2 concentrations, corresponding to plasma PGI2-like activity in man, increased red blood cell deformability and reduced blood viscosity. The PGI2 capacity of affecting red blood cell deformability and blood viscosity seems to be of clinical interest in conditions where the PGI2 production is reduced, such as ischemic heart disease, peripheral artery disease and diabetes mellitus.
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