[Comparison of whole blood viscosity in vascular diseases].

The viscosity of whole blood taken from patients suffering from different diseases was studied. The measurements of blood viscosity were performed in the shear rate range 0.01-100 s-1 in three groups of patients. The first group consisted of 60 patients without known cardiovascular disorders referred for a non-vascular minor surgery (patients did not take any drugs influencing vascular system). The second group (30 persons) consisted of patients after cerebral ischemic episode, remaining under permanent medical control. The third group consisted of 100 patients after myocardial infarction. In the group of patients suffering from vascular system disorders (second and third) the blood viscosity has been significantly lower then in the first group. Such results might suggest that in patients with vascular system disorders blood viscosity has been decreased in the way of specific feedback mechanism, whereas the beneficial hemorrheological influence of secondary prevention seems to be questionable.