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Distribution of blood viscosity values and biochemical correlates in healthy adults
R S Rosenson1, A McCormick, E F Uretz
1Preventive Cardiology Center, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Insights
This study establishes reference blood viscosity values in healthy adults. Higher blood viscosity correlates with lower HDL cholesterol and higher fibrinogen, aiding cardiovascular risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Hemodynamics
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Elevated blood and plasma viscosity are linked to atherothrombotic vascular disease.
- Establishing reference values from healthy populations is crucial for clinical utility in cardiovascular risk analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine reference values for blood, plasma, and serum viscosity in healthy adults.
- To investigate correlations between viscosity measurements and cardiovascular risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Fasting blood samples from 126 healthy, non-smoking adults were analyzed.
- Viscosity of whole blood, plasma, and serum was measured at 37°C using a microviscometer.
- Correlations with lipid profiles, fibrinogen, and total serum protein were assessed.
Main Results:
- Mean blood viscosity varied by shear rate (3.26-5.46 mPa.s).
- Men exhibited higher blood viscosity than women, though differences diminished after hematocrit normalization.
- Blood viscosity correlated inversely with HDL cholesterol and positively with fibrinogen.
- Plasma viscosity correlated with fibrinogen, total protein, and triglycerides.
- Serum viscosity correlated with total protein and LDL cholesterol.
Conclusions:
- Provides essential reference values for hemorheological parameters in a healthy cohort.
- Highlights significant correlations between viscosity and key cardiovascular risk factors.
- Suggests viscosity measurements can aid in evaluating hemorheological profiles for cardiovascular risk assessment.
Abstract:
Increases in the viscosity of blood and plasma predict clinical manifestations of atherothrombotic vascular disease. The clinical utility of viscosity measurements in cardiovascular risk factor analysis requires reference values established from a healthy disease-free population. A cohort of 126 (71 men, 55 women) healthy nonsmoking adults had fasting blood analysis after a 12-14-h fast. Viscosity measurements were made on samples of whole blood, plasma, and serum at 37 degrees C with a coaxial cylinder microviscometer. The mean blood viscosity at shear rates of 100, 50, and 1 s-1 were 3.26 +/- 0.43, 4.37 +/- 0.60, and 5.46 +/- 0.84 mPa.s, respectively. Men had significantly higher blood viscosity values than women at each shear rate. The differences in blood viscosity did not remain significant after blood viscosity values were normalized to a hematocrit of 45%, except at 100 s-1. For the entire group, normalized blood viscosity values at each measured rate correlated inversely with HDL cholesterol and positively with fibrinogen. The mean plasma viscosity was 1.39 +/- 0.08 mPa.s and the mean serum viscosity was 1.27 +/- 0.06 mPa.s. Plasma viscosity correlated with fibrinogen (r = 0.51, P < 0.0001), total serum protein (r = 0.33, P < 0.0001), and triglyceride concentrations (r = 0.33, P < 0.0015). Serum viscosity correlated with total serum protein (r = 0.50, P < 0.0001) and LDL cholesterol (r = 0.24, P = 0.0065). This study provides reference values for the viscosity of blood, plasma, and serum that may assist in evaluating hemorheological profiles.