Modifications of viscoelastic properties during cardiovascular diseases.

Viscoelasticity of whole blood and plasma viscosity have been measured with an oscillating capillary rheometer routinely in patients with arteriosclerotic risk factors. Significantly higher values of the hemorheologic parameters are found in such patients. No correlation to other risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipemia, smoking) could be found. Long term treatment of the patients with hemorheologically active drugs can induce a decrease of the pathologically increased viscoelastic parameters which become significant after three months of treatment. The response of the patients to different drugs varies individually, therefore, each patient and each drug should be checked during the treatment continuously.