Some rheological properties of blood during anti-rheumatoid therapy.

A study was carried out to compare the whole blood and plasma viscosities in 11 patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with hydroxychloroquine to the corresponding values in 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with either sodium aurothiomalate or D-penicillamine to determine whether hydroxychloroquine therapy altered the rheological properties of red blood cells. There was no significant difference for natural and corrected (PVC = 45%) whole blood viscosity measured by Contraves low shear viscometer and Harkness capillary viscometer, plasma viscosity, haematocrit, or erythrocyte sedimentation rate between the two group.