Changes in blood viscosity and plasma proteins in carcinoma

Blood viscosity and plasma protein concentrations were measured in 31 patients with a variety of visceral carcinomas. The mean whole blood viscosity was not elevated over normal controls because of a significantly lowered mean hematocrit. However, when hematocrit was eliminated as a variable by adjusting the hematocrit to 45%, the mean whole blood viscosity was significantly elevated in the group with carcinoma. Both the plasma viscosity and the tendency for red cell aggregation were significantly elevated. Since blood is a non-Newtonian fluid, and its viscosity increases markedly at low shear rates, these rheological abnormalities would be most important at the low shear rates characteristic of the venous circulation. It is suggested that these abnormalities in blood viscosity and red cell aggregation may be contributing to the high incidence of venous thromboembolism seen in patients with neoplastic.