The influence of iron-deficient indices on whole blood viscosity in polycythaemia.
The relationship of the red-cell indices, packed-cell volume (PCV) and plasma viscosity to whole-blood viscosity was examined in 18 patients with polycythaemia. Sixteen were examined again following a course of venesection. The results were analysed by multiple regression analysis which allowed the effects of individual variables to be independently assessed. A reduction of the MCH or MCV was associated with increased whole-blood viscosity especially at low-shear rates. It is concluded that the reduced size of iron-deficient cells results in increased cell-cell interaction causing an increase in whole-blood viscosity.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D001815:Bloodletting; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011086:Polycythemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy