Prognostic value of initial blood viscosity on vascular surgery and treatment in peripheral disease.

Abstract

The correlation between extent of arteriosclerosis and blood viscosity, and the reduction in viscosity after successful surgery support the hypothesis that a raised viscosity is a consequence rather than a cause of arteriosclerosis. Measurement of blood viscosity was of little practical help to our team of vascular surgeons when they were faced with the problem of which reconstruction to do and when to do the procedure on a particular patient. The results of our studies show that in patients with arteriosclerosis, in whom only the major arteries are affected, the viscosity of the blood is not grossly abnormal and a knowledge of the blood viscosity does little to influence treatment. Patients with peripheral vascular disease affecting the small arteries and arterioles often have a high blood viscosity. In these circumstances manipulation of blood viscosity by hemodilution or drugs may be of benefit, and there is evidence that isoxsuprine given intravenously can achieve a reduction in viscosity.