Influence of dextrans on the rheological properties of blood¹

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Singh, Megha | Coulter Jr., N.A.

Affiliations: Biomedical Engineering and Mathematics Program, Department of Surgery, School of Medicinc, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514

Note: [1] Supported by N.I.H. Grant HE 10063.

Abstract: The effect of dilution on the apparent viscosity of high hematocrit blood, with flow improver and plasma expander type of dextrans, was studied in a capillary viscometer. All experiments were performed on fresh heparinized dog blood. It was observed that blood dextran mixtures at normal hematocrit (41 per cent) have higher apparent viscosity than that of whole blood, at the same hematocrit, at all flow rates, and that under certain conditions even low hematocrit (23 per cent) mixtures have a higher apparent viscosity than whole blood of normal hematocrit. Analysis of the data indicates that the viscosity of the suspending medium is a major determinant of the apparent viscosity of whole blood.

DOI: 10.3233/BIR-1974-11401

Journal: Biorheology, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 217-225, 1974