Blood rheology in emergency medicine

Emergency conditions are generally associated with changes in blood rheology due to a systemic "acute-phase" reaction occurring within hours of the acute event. The acute-phase reaction includes changes in plasma protein patterns as well as in red cell properties. The deterioration of blood flow properties thus resulting is usually moderate and reversible. On the other hand, there are emergency situations caused or at least seriously aggravated by severe changes in blood rheology: circulatory shock, hyperviscosity syndromes, sickle cell crisis, and preeclampsia. In these conditions, special rheological therapeutic measures have to be taken into consideration.