[Can normovolemic hemodilution really modify blood flow in the limbs?]

A clinical study on the effects of the normovolemic hemodilution on hemorheological and peripheral hemodynamic parameters has been carried out in patients with peripheral obliterative arterial disease. Two sessions have been performed: the acute test consisted in daily normovolemic hemodilutions for a period of 7 days in 10 patients with the determination of hemorheological and peripheral hemodynamic parameters before and after each treatment. A chronic study was then carried out in 8 patients by applying weekly normovolemic hemodilutions, by evaluating the hemorheological parameters as in the first session and by measuring the peripheral hemodynamic parameters at the beginning, after 5 weeks and at the end of the treatment. The results are reported and the possible mechanism of action of normovolemic hemodilution is discussed.