title: Influence of hematocrit on erythrocyte aggregation kinetics for suspensions of red blood cells in autologous plasma.
abstract: The influence of hematocrit on red blood cell aggregation was investigated using a modified automated Myrenne Aggregometer System. Hematocrit values ranged from 20-70% at 10% increments, and were produced by resuspending washed red cells in autologous plasma. The Myrenne System produced seven kinetic parameters of red cell aggregation. The results indicate that hematocrit (Hct) had a strong and nonlinear effect on erythrocyte aggregability. At both low and high hematocrit, the aggregation intensity (AI) tends to decrease, reaching a plateau at 40% hematocrit. The disaggregation shear rate demonstrates an exponential relationship as In gamma TMIN = 3.29-0.0837 Hct. Time constants of the aggregation process such as T1/2, TSLOW and TFAST were rather inconsistent. The increase of hematocrit increased the rate of the fast phase aggregation and slightly slowed the secondary aggregation.
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Unit, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Barbenel
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Lowe
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation / Q000502:physiology*; D006400:Hematocrit; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D010949:Plasma / Q000502:physiology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical