Comparison of rheological parameters in patients with post hepatitic and alcoholic cirrhosis.

It is well known that various constituents of blood, especially lipids and proteins, and hematological parameters are altered in chronic liver diseases. These alterations have been shown to affect rheological parameters in various studies. However, it is not clear whether the etiology of chronic liver has any specific influence on flow dynamics of blood. In the present study, we analysed erythrocyte rigidity (ER), whole blood and plasma viscosity, and other factors related to blood rheology (including hematological parameters, plasma lipids and proteins) in healthy controls (n=20) and patients with post hepatitic and alcoholic cirrhosis (n=15 in each group). ER was significantly higher (p<0.05) in both groups compared to controls. Although blood viscosity was found to be low in both groups, the difference reached statistical significance only in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. On the other hand, when compared to controls, plasma viscosity was significantly lower in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and significantly higher in patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis (p<0.05). When we compare post hepatic and alcoholic cirrhosis with each other, there was no significant difference in ER between the two groups.