Affiliations: Institute of Neurophysiopathology, University, and Center for Cerebral Neurophysiology, National Research Council (CNR) | Atherosclerosis Prevention Center - Chair of Gerontology, University, Genova, Italy
Abstract: Whole blood viscosity (WBV) at the shear rates of 0.471 sec−1 and 63.9 sec−1, plasma viscosity, hematocrit, fibrinogen, plasma total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, and Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF) - by the 133 Xenon inhalation method - were measured before and soon after LDL-apheresis in four patients affected with familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia. Heart Rate (HR), Blood Pressure, pC02, p02, and pH in capillary blood, and the anxiety level of patients (by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) were also measured at the beginning of each CBF examination. WBV at the shear rate of 0.471 sec−1 (p<0.05), fibrinogen (p<0.01), plasma viscosity (p<0.05), total cholesterol (p<0.01) and LDL-cholesterol (p<0.01) significantly (paired t-test) decreased after LDL-apheresis, as compared with baseline measurements. No significant differences were found for hematocrit, HDL-cholesterol, WBV at the shear rate of 63.9 sec−1, HR, MABP, pC02, p02, pH, anxiety, and CBF measured before and after LDL-apheresis. These results show that, despite the significant drop in plasma and low shear WBV induced by LDL-apheresis, CBF remains constant, and this is probably because of its autoregulatory property.
