Vol 11, No 1 (2007)
Editorial
Published online: 2007-01-24
The role of the blood viscosity in the pathogenesis of the arterial hypertension
Marek Rajzer, Ilona Palka, Kalina Kawecka-Jaszcz
Nadciśnienie tętnicze 2007;11(1):1-11.
Vol 11, No 1 (2007)
Artykuły redakcyjne
Published online: 2007-01-24
Abstract
Blood viscosity, the principal physical property of each
fluid, is the force acting against the flow which defines the
flow conditions in whole circulatory system. Blood viscosity
is influenced by external factors like temperature, flow velocity
and oscillations but mainly depends on blood itself
i. e. the value of hematocrite, red blood cell deformability and
plasma proteins composition. Hematology was the first
branch of medicine interested in blood viscosity thus blood
viscosity disturbances are most widely described in
hematological disorders. Composite haemorheologic disturbances
are observed in numerous cardiovascular diseases
too. Importance of the blood viscosity is emphasized
in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and its cardio-vascular
complications including acute myocardial infarction
and ischaemic stroke as well as in diabetes, metabolic syndrome
and hyperlipidemia. Blood viscosity disturbances
are commonly considered as clinical steady components of
the arterial hypertension especially in the more advanced
stages (ESH/ESC 2 and 3 stage). Factors responsible for
elevated blood viscosity in patients with arterial hypertension
include elevated hematocrite values and
hyperfibrynogenemia. According to Poiseuille’s law, blood
viscosity increases systemic blood pressure via increased
vascular resistance. On the other hand blood viscosity is
necessary for shear stress forces development between
blood and vascular wall. Shear stress acts on vascular endothelium
where increases the synthesis of vasodilators
(mechanotransduction). The role of blood viscosity in
blood pressure regulation is composite. Pathological increase
in blood viscosity is responsible for hypertensive complications and remains in strong correlation with total
mortality among hypertensive patients. The influence on
blood viscosity can be important in antihypertensive
therapy. The influence of new antihypertensive drugs on
blood viscosity is considered to be positive. However, results
from the research carried out up to now need to be
confirmed in prospective randomized clinical trials.
Abstract
Blood viscosity, the principal physical property of each
fluid, is the force acting against the flow which defines the
flow conditions in whole circulatory system. Blood viscosity
is influenced by external factors like temperature, flow velocity
and oscillations but mainly depends on blood itself
i. e. the value of hematocrite, red blood cell deformability and
plasma proteins composition. Hematology was the first
branch of medicine interested in blood viscosity thus blood
viscosity disturbances are most widely described in
hematological disorders. Composite haemorheologic disturbances
are observed in numerous cardiovascular diseases
too. Importance of the blood viscosity is emphasized
in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and its cardio-vascular
complications including acute myocardial infarction
and ischaemic stroke as well as in diabetes, metabolic syndrome
and hyperlipidemia. Blood viscosity disturbances
are commonly considered as clinical steady components of
the arterial hypertension especially in the more advanced
stages (ESH/ESC 2 and 3 stage). Factors responsible for
elevated blood viscosity in patients with arterial hypertension
include elevated hematocrite values and
hyperfibrynogenemia. According to Poiseuille’s law, blood
viscosity increases systemic blood pressure via increased
vascular resistance. On the other hand blood viscosity is
necessary for shear stress forces development between
blood and vascular wall. Shear stress acts on vascular endothelium
where increases the synthesis of vasodilators
(mechanotransduction). The role of blood viscosity in
blood pressure regulation is composite. Pathological increase
in blood viscosity is responsible for hypertensive complications and remains in strong correlation with total
mortality among hypertensive patients. The influence on
blood viscosity can be important in antihypertensive
therapy. The influence of new antihypertensive drugs on
blood viscosity is considered to be positive. However, results
from the research carried out up to now need to be
confirmed in prospective randomized clinical trials.
Keywords
whole blood viscosity; plasma viscosity; arterial hypertension; antihypertensive drugs
Title
The role of the blood viscosity in the pathogenesis of the arterial hypertension
Journal
Arterial Hypertension
Issue
Vol 11, No 1 (2007)
Article type
Editorial
Pages
1-11
Published online
2007-01-24
Page views
10287
Article views/downloads
16766
Bibliographic record
Nadciśnienie tętnicze 2007;11(1):1-11.
Keywords
whole blood viscosity
plasma viscosity
arterial hypertension
antihypertensive drugs
Authors
Marek Rajzer
Ilona Palka
Kalina Kawecka-Jaszcz