Maternal blood viscosity and uteroplacental blood flow velocity waveforms in normal and complicated pregnancies.
According to the Poiseuille-Hagen law, viscosity influences flow resistance. A possible effect of blood viscosity upon the resistance index of the uteroplacental circulation as measured by continuous wave Doppler ultrasound was investigated in 50 pregnant women. It was found that blood viscosity variables explained only about 10% of the variation in the resistance index in all patients, which was not statistically significant. It is suggested, therefore, that the vascular contribution to flow resistance may be more important.
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*