[Effect of disorders of lipid metabolism on the rheological properties of blood in patients with ischemic heart disease].

A comparative study of the effects of changes in erythrocytic membrane and serum lipid metabolism on rheologic blood properties (total blood and plasma viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation and deformability) was conducted in 70 patients with chronic coronary disease. A positive correlation was established between total blood and plasma viscosity and serum triglyceride levels. Increased serum cholesterol levels were not found to affect plasma viscosity in any significant manner. Erythrocyte deformability was reduced in coronary patients with high molar cholesterol/phospholipids ratio in erythrocyte membranes, patients with high serum cholesterol levels showing the highest membrane molar cholesterol/phospholipids ratio.