Elsevier

American Heart Journal

Volume 87, Issue 2, February 1974, Pages 175-182
American Heart Journal

Clinical communication
Potential significance of plasma viscosity and hematocrit variations in myocardial ischemia

https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-8703(74)90038-6Get rights and content

Abstract

A simplified theoretical model of the myocardial circulation has been developed. This model indicates that elevated values of fibrinogen and plasma viscosity may play a significant detrimental role following myocardial infarction. It is suggested that modification of plasma viscosity through a reduction of fibrinogen concentration may be a useful clinical technique in cardiology. Infarct size studies in animals, such as those of Maroko, Ginks, and associates,41,42 in which fibrinogen levels are purposely varied, should be useful in testing these predictions.

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    This work was supported in part by a grant from the Palm Beach County Heart Association and National Institutes of Health Cardiovascular Graduate Training Grant No. 5 T01 HL05784-05 (Dr. G. K. Snyder and Dr. H. Tritel, Trainees).

    Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

    ∗∗

    Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

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