Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation - Volume 24, issue 3

Authors: Steins, Anke | Hahn, Martin | Jünger, Michael

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Incompetence of venous valves do not lead per se to trophic skin changes of the lower limb. In severely concerned patients suffering from dermatoliposclerosis or venous leg ulcers retrograde pressure waves were detected in the nutritive capillaries of the skin by the “servo nulling” pressure measurement during simulated calf muscle contraction. Between the degree of trophic skin change and the capillary density and cutaneous oxygen partial pressure a close correlation was found. Healing of venous ulcers occurred only if the cutaneous microangiopathy in the ulcer area improved. Capillary density and transcutaneous oxygen partial pressure were of prognostic impact as to …healing of venous ulcers. Show more

Keywords: Microangiopathy, chronic venous insufficiency, capillary pressure, skin microcirculation, venous ulcer

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 147-153, 2001

Authors: Miao, Ge | Zhiyuan, Ren | Qingsheng, Yang | Haiyan, Wei

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In order to provide a scientific basic for a unified standard of the reference value of old people's erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in China. The reference value of healthy old people's ESR was collected according to the Wintrobe method, the relationship between the reference value of old people's ESR and altitude was tested in this paper. It was found that the reference value of old people's ESR decreases when the altitude gradually increases, the relationship is quite significant. The method of mathematical univariate regression analysis was used to deduce two regression equations: $\hat{Y}_{1}$ =16.38−0.00301X±6.53, $\hat{Y}_{2}$ =25.92−0.00438X±10.25. If the …altitude value of a particular area of China is known, the reference value of old people's ESR can be calculated by means of the regression equations. Furthermore, depending on the altitude, China can be divided into three districts: Qingzang Districts, Central Districts and Eastern Districts. Show more

Keywords: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), reference value, altitude, regression analysis, hemorheology

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 155-159, 2001

Authors: You, Yun | Liao, Fulong

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of verapamil on shear induced platelet aggregation (SIPA). Blood of New Zealand rabbit was collected to prepare platelet‐rich‐plasma (PRP) by routine centrifugation. A cone‐plate shear device was employed to generate shear stress. The verapamil‐treated PRP or control PRP were sheared at 37°C for 120 sec. SIPA was determined from counting of free platelet. The inhibition rates of SIPA by verapamil for five doses at three shear levels were calculated accordingly. The concentration of half inhibition (IC50 ) was 0.03, 0.07 and 0.09 mmol/l for 20, 40 and 52 dyn/cm2 , …respectively. The regression for IC50 of verapamil and shear stress follows the linear equation: IC50 =−0.0071+0.0019τ (r=0.999,P=0.03). The results indicate that calcium antagonist may have the potential for inhibition of SIPA although the current IC50 for rabbit platelet is higher than that of human routine blood concentration of verapamil. Show more

Keywords: Calcium antagonist, verapamil, platelet aggregation, shear stress

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 161-165, 2001

Authors: Kröger, K. | Billen, T. | Neuhaus, G. | Santosa, F. | Buss, C. | Kreuzfelder, E. | Henneberg‐Quester, K.B.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Introduction: A Raynaud phenomenon can be associated with cold agglutinins or cryoglobulins. Although cold agglutinins or cryoglobulins may lead to severe acral gangrene the finding of relevant titers is rare. Low titers of cold agglutinins or cryoglobulins are detected more frequently but are assumed to be without any importance. Objectives: To prove a possible diagnostic or prognostic role of low titers of cold agglutinins or cryoglobulins in patients presenting an isolated Raynaud phenomenon we did a retrospective analysis. Settings and subjects: In 306 patients (40±16 years, range: 15–83 years) with a mean duration of the history of an …isolated Raynaud phenomenon of 48±73 months we did a clinical examination, an analysis of antinuclear antibodies, extractable antibodies, cold agglutinins, cryoglobulins, plasma and blood viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation and a nail fold capillaroscopy. Results: Low titers of cold agglutinins were found in 49 patients and of cryoglobulins in 7 patients. The finding of such low titers was not associated with extensive clinical symptoms, duration of clinical symptoms, megacapillaries or haemorrhagies in capillaroscopy, pathologic plasma and blood viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation. The follow‐up investigations (mean: 3.1±1.2 years, range: 3–7 years) revealed no development of a haematological, vasculitic or connective tissue disease in the subgroup of patients who only had low titers of cold agglutinins. Conclusion: The detection of low titers of cold agglutinins in patients with isolated Raynaud phenomenon is of no diagnostic or prognostic relevance. Show more

Keywords: Raynaud phenomenon, cold agglutinins, cryoglobulins, viscosity

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 167-174, 2001

Authors: Sargento, L. | Sobral do Rosário, H. | Saldanha, C. | Martins‐Silva, J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Sodium fluorescein is widely used in clinical practice for the study of the retinal circulation by angiography. It has been reported several hemorheological and microvascular abnormalities induced by this compound. The aim of this work was to analyse the hemorheological effects of intravenous sodium fluorescein in an animal model. Twenty male 10–16 weeks‐old Wistar rats were used, under systemic anaesthesia. The animals were divided in 2 groups of 10 each: (1) intravenous injection of sodium fluorescein (14 mg/kg of body weight) – Group NaF, (2) controls (injection of NaCl 0.9%) – Group CTRL. A blood sample was drawn by aortic …puncture after 60 minutes and hemorheological parameters determined: hematocrit, hemoglobin, metahemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte deformability, membrane fluidity and acetylcholinesterase activity. In the Group NaF there was a 20% reduction of the AChE activity (p<0.05) and an increase in PV (p<0.05). Concerning hemoglobin status, a three‐fold increase in COHb (p<0.001) was shown. In conclusion, the NaF injection in the animal model produces hemorheological abnormalities similar to those reported in the human. Show more

Keywords: Sodium fluorescein, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte membrane, membrane fluidity, carboxyhemoglobin, erythrocyte deformability, rats

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 175-181, 2001

Authors: Ohlmann, P. | Jung, F. | Mrowietz, Ch. | Alt, T. | Alt, S. | Schmidt, W.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: During pregnancy the cardiovascular system undergoes several changes so as to adapt the maternal organism to the strains of pregnancy. These adaptations can assume a pathological development in persons with a previous history of cardiovascular problems. On the other hand the absence of these adaptations may lead to a pathological course of pregnancy. Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) may be such a pathological development due to maladaptation. The causes are for the most part unknown. For some time it has been assumed that it is due to microcirculatory disorders. Using periungual capillary microscopy the present study prospectively investigated the changes in …peripheral microcirculation during pregnancy focussing on pregnancy induced hypertension. Sixty‐seven women with a normal course of pregnancy and 28 women with pregnancy induced hypertension were evaluated. Throughout the prospective study 3 examinations were performed during pregnancy and one during childbed. The women who developed a PIH were registered during the third trimester. Erythrocyte velocity at rest and vascular reagibility of capillaries following a 3 minute ischaemia were evaluated. In the course of pregnancy a significant increase of approximately 30% in erythrocyte velocity could be observed. Interpolation to obtain the best strait line result demonstrates that it is a continuous increase. Erythrocyte velocity returns to normal in the course of 14 weeks post partum. Due to a physiological vasodilatation during pregnancy, vascular reaction to ischaemic stress significantly decreases. During childbed these changes return to normal. Examinations on women with pregnancy induced hypertension not only showed a significant reduction of microcirculation under resting conditions but also a different pattern of reaction to ischaemic stress. Erythrocyte velocity under resting conditions lies 36% below normal values. Furthermore the distinctly shortened hyperaemic period indicates a hightened sensitivity to vasoconstrictive substances in women with PIH. While taking into account the clinical data a positive correlation with the severity of the illness was able to be established. Show more

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 183-191, 2001

Authors: Brevetti, Gregorio | De Caterina, Maurizio | Martone, Vincenzo D. | Ungaro, Biagio | Corrado, Federica | Silvestro, Antonio | de Cristofaro, Tiziana | Scopacasa, Francesco

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Adhesion molecules play a relevant role in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases. In 21 patients with intermittent claudication and 18 sex‐ and age‐matched control subjects, we measured plasma levels of the circulating form of the adhesion molecules E‐selectin, P‐selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1) alongside von Willebrand factor (vWF), at rest, at maximally tolerated exercise and 5, 15 and 30 min after exercise. In controls, plasma sICAM‐1 levels did not change with exercise, while in claudicants they increased from 285±15 to 317±16 ng/ml (p<0.01). Also for sVCAM‐1 exercise did not modify plasma levels of …sVCAM‐1 in controls but increased it in claudicants from 671±45 to 751±47 ng/ml (p<0.05). Similarly, vWF did not change with exercise in controls, but increased in claudicants from 100±9% to 111±8% of value for pooled normal plasma (p<0.05). Exercise‐induced changes in sICAM‐1 negatively correlated with the maximal tolerated walking time, which is an index of disease severity. These findings indicate that, in claudicants, exercise is associated with increase in plasma levels of sICAM‐1 and sVCAM‐1. Show more

Keywords: Soluble adhesion molecules, intermittent claudication, peripheral arterial disease, exercise, von Willebrand factor

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 193-199, 2001

Authors: Wang, X. | Wei, L. | Ouyang, J.P. | Muller, S. | Gentils, M. | Cauchois, G. | Stoltz, J.F.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In Chinese traditional medicine, angelica is widely used for its known clinical effects of ameliorating blood microcirculation. But the mechanism of these beneficial effects still remains unclear. In this work the rheological behaviour of human erythrocytes treated by angelica was studied in vitro. Normal RBCs incubated with an angelica extract at different concentrations (5, 10 or 20 mg/ml) for 60 min at 37°C and then their aggregation, deformation and osmotic fragility were measured with different recently developed optical techniques, namely Erythroaggregometer (Regulest, Florange, France), LORCA (Mechatronics, Amsterdam) and Fragilimeter (Regulest, Florange, France). Experimental results show that angelica (20 mg/ml) significantly …decreased normal RBCs' aggregation speed (p<0.01) and could inhibit the hyperaggregability caused by dextran 500. However, the strength of normal RBCs aggregates were not influenced by angelica. When a calcium ionophore A23187 (1.9 μM) was used to harden cell membrane, angelica (20 mg/ml) could significantly (p<0.01) protect erythrocytes against the loss of their deformability even it had no effects on normal RBCs deformation. Finally angelica (5 and 10 mg/ml) decreased significantly (p<0.01) normal RBCs osmotic fragility. In conclusion angelica plays a rheologically active role on human erythrocytes, and this study suggests a possible mechanism for angelica's positive effects against certain cardiovascular diseases. Show more

Keywords: Angelica, erythrocyte, deformation, aggregation, osmotic fragility

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 201-205, 2001

Article Type: Abstract

Citation: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 207-216, 2001