Analytical performance evaluation of the scanning capillary tube viscometer for measurement of whole blood viscosity

Whole blood viscosity (WBV) is increased in cancer patients and associated with the advanced stage with systemic metastases. However, relevance of WBV in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. This pilot study included a discovery cohort of 148 treatment-naïve HCC patients with preserved liver function, and a validation cohort of 33 treatment-experienced HCC patients with nivolumab. Systolic and diastolic WBV was measured using an automated scanning capillary tube viscometer at diagnosis or before the nivolumab treatment. Extrahepatic metastases were observed in 15 treatment-naïve patients (11.3%) at diagnosis. Portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT), tumor size, number of tumors, and systolic/diastolic WBV were factors associated with extrahepatic metastases. Systolic WBV and diastolic WBV were significantly increased in patients with metastases compared with patients without metastases. Multivariate logistic regression showed that high diastolic WBV > 16 cP was an independent factor associated with metastases. Notably, patients who developed extrahepatic metastases during the observation period among patients without metastases at diagnosis had higher diastolic WBV initially. Patients with high diastolic WBV had poor survival, and multivariate Cox regression analyses showed high diastolic WBV was an independent risk factor for poor survival with the Child-Pugh B7 and PVTT. High diastolic WBV also predicted poor survival in patients with low alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and proteins induced by vitamin K antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) levels. In 33 nivolumab-treated patients, high diastolic WBV before the treatment was also tended to be associated with overall and progression-free survival. Our study is the first in which high WBV is associated with the distant metastases and survival in patients with HCC, but future prospective, large cohort studies are necessary to validate the results.

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Effect of a fatty meal on whole blood and plasma viscosity

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/jappl.1963.18.6.1217 ◽

1963 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 1217-1220 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

S. Charm ◽

W. McComis ◽

C. Tejada ◽

G. Kurland

Keyword(s):

Blood Viscosity ◽

Whole Blood ◽

Plasma Lipids ◽

Capillary Tube ◽

Plasma Viscosity ◽

Fatty Meal ◽

Whole Blood Viscosity ◽

Before And After ◽

Theoretical Considerations ◽

Low Shear

The viscosity of whole blood of 40 medical students measured with a Brookfield cone and plate viscometer showed no change before and after a fatty meal although the serum lipids increased. In separate experiments, no change was noted in plasma viscosity as determined by the capillary tube technique although plasma lipids increased. From theoretical considerations, it was suggested that methods of determining viscosity within a 2% error would be necessary in order to detect changes in plasma and whole blood viscosity after a fatty meal. However, even with the GDM low-shear rate coaxial viscometer, which has an accuracy reputed to be 2%, no change was observed in the whole blood or plasma viscosity. The results with the GDM viscometer compared favorably with the results from the Brookfield cone and plate viscometer. In 2 out of 52 cases a definite decrease in whole blood viscosity was found 3 hr after a fatty meal. The plasma viscosities, however, did not change. It is postulated that in rare cases a decrease in the yield stress of the cell aggregates due to the increased lipids results in a decreased blood viscosity. The mechanics by which this occurred is under study. dietary fat; viscosity of blood Submitted on June 15, 1963

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Viscosity and Red Cell Deformity in Arterial Disease

10.1055/s-0038-1665789 ◽

1979 ◽

Author(s):

G Cella ◽

H de Haas ◽

M Rampling ◽

V Kakkar

Keyword(s):

Vascular Disease ◽

Blood Viscosity ◽

Whole Blood ◽

Arterial Disease ◽

Plasma Viscosity ◽

Control Group ◽

Fibrinogen Concentration ◽

Red Cell ◽

Whole Blood Viscosity ◽

Significant Difference

Haemorrheological factors have been shown to be affected in many kings of vascular disease. The present study was undertaken to correlate these factors in normal subjects and patients suffering from peripheral arterial disease. Twenty-two patients were investigated; they had moderate or severe intermittent claudication, extent of disease being confirmed by aorto-arteriography and ankle-systolic pressure studies. Twenty-five controls with no symptoms or signs of arterial disease were selected with comparable age and sex distribution. Whole blood viscosity was measured at shear rates of 230 secs-1 and 23 secs-lat 37°c using a Wells Brookfield cone plate microvisco meter. Plasma viscosity was also measured in an identical manner. Erythrocyte flexibility was measured by centrifuge technique and fibrinogen concentration as well as haematocrit by standard techniques. The fibrinogen concentration appeared to be the only significant parameter; the mean concentration in patients with peripheral vascular disease of 463 ± 73mg/l00ml in the control group ( < 0.05). Although whole blood viscosity was high in patients, when corrected to a common haematocrit, there was no significant difference between patients and controls. The same megative correlation was found for plasma viscosity. The red cell flexibility was found to be increased in patients as compared to the control group, but this effect appeared to be simply proportional to the fibrinogen concentration.

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