The effect of heparin on the viscoelasticity of whole blood clots

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Overholser, K.A. | Itin, J.P.^{; *} | Brown, D.R.^{; **} | Harris, T.R.

Affiliations: Chemical Engineering Program, School of Engineering and Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235

Note: [*] Present address: E. I. duPont deNemours and Co., Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A.

Note: [**] Present address: School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.A.

Abstract: It was demonstrated that pharmacological alteration of coagulating whole blood can influence the mechanical properties of the clot and can be assessed rheologically. The clot viscoelasticity was measured in a Weissenberg Rheogoniomcter as a function of the concentration of anticoagulant sodium heparin. The storage component of the elastic modulus was seen to be significantly and reproducibly lowered by heparin. Variation between donors was found to be minimized by adjustment of hematocrit, platelet count, and fibrinogen content to common values.

DOI: 10.3233/BIR-1975-12509

Journal: Biorheology, vol. 12, no. 5, pp. 309-316, 1975