Ultrasonic evaluation of erythrocyte aggregation dynamics

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kim, Shin Y.^a | Miller, Irving F.^{a; b} | Sigel, Bernard^c | Macke Consigny, P.^d | Justin, Jeff^c

Affiliations: [a] Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60680 | [b] Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60680 | [c] Department of Surgery, The Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19129 | [d] Department of Physiology, The Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19129

Note: [] Accepted by: Editor G.W. Schmid-Schönbein

Abstract: The dynamics of aggregation and disaggregation of blood of varying hematocrit in oscillatory flow in a distensible horizontal tube was determined by measuring the developing echo intensity of the blood samples with a 10 MHz B-mode ultrasonic scanner. Early aggregation could be detected within 10 sec. of stoppage of flow. The rate of echo intensity buildup and thus, presumably the rate of aggregation when flow was stopped was inversely related to hematocrit, as was the rate of echo intensity reduction when flow was resumed. Polycythemic blood of 60% hematocrit showed no echo intensity increase over 5 min. Increasing the shear stress when flow was resumed resulted in rapid decreases in aggregation. In all cases, disaggregation following flow resumption was faster than aggregation following flow stoppage.

Keywords: erythrocyte, aggregation, ultrasound

DOI: 10.3233/BIR-1989-26405

Journal: Biorheology, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 723-736, 1989