Hemorheological changes and characteristic parameters derived from whole blood viscometry in chronic heroin addicts

Abstract

A group of 15 chronic opioid addicts (DA) with mean age 26.5 ± 7.3 years was studied by means of a rotational Contraves Low Shear 30 viscometer and the results have been compared with a control group of 19 healthy subjects. It was found that the mean whole blood viscosity values of the investigated group of heroin abusers (n = 15) were elevated compared to that of healthy persons (n = 19) over the whole shear rate range and fell by more than ten orders of magnitude . The present investigation uses the coefficients of the models of Ostwald-de-Walle (power law) and Herschel-Bulkley law, which describe whole blood flow curves (τ − . γ ) within the shear rates range from 10 −2 to 10 2 s −1 and itself incorporate whole blood viscosity data in the entire shear rate range. A significant difference in the mean yield shear stress τ 0 values of the drug abusers' group compared to the controls was found. A strong positive linear correlation was determined between the parameters of RBC aggregation in the group of heroin addicts confirming our previous results (Ivanov and Antonova, 2005; for intensive RBC and platelet aggregation and morphological changes in DA group.

Determination of whole blood and plasma viscosity by means of flow curve analysis

“…However, the disadvantage of these models is that one needs to define several parameters, which are required for more precise agreement. In Casson's method this includes yield shear stress (in addition to the curve), which describes the behavior of a pseudoplastic fluid such as whole blood and which is influenced by the aggregation behavior of erythrocytes (Kowal 1998;Antonova et al 2008). Casson`s approximation of whole blood viscosity of healthy adults showed a high quality of agreement in the present study.…”

“…Due to the new software of the LS300 viscometer, the shear forces of a fluid can be measured at freely selected shear rates. The flow curve thus obtained permits calculation of the viscosity of a non-Newtonian fluid like whole blood (Antonova et al 2008(Antonova et al , 2012 and not only the blood viscosity at a specific predefined shear force, an often used method. This permits calculation of shear forces at any desired shear rate, and the creation of a viscosity profile (Holsworth et al 2013).…”

<p>Microbial Modulation of Coagulation Disorders in Venous Thromboembolism</p>

“…126 In contrast, opioid substances are decreasing antithrombin activity and blood viscosity due to an increase in aggregation of RBCs and platelets and a change in their deformability. 127,128 At the same time, an increase in fibrinogen concentration and leukocyte aggregation was observed. 129 Infections leading to pneumonia, urinary tract infections and bacteremia increase the risk of thrombotic complications such as ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction.…”

Assessment of oxidative stress of platelets among chronic heroin and hashish addicts

“…10 The impacts of heroin and hashish addictions on hemorheological properties and cellular changes of blood were investigated by several earlier studies; blood viscosity, cells counts, and indices were among the features that were investigated. [11][12][13] However, oxidative damage precipitated by chronic addiction on blood cells including platelets is poorly studied. Here, in this study, we investigated oxidative damage in platelets in response to chronic heroin and hashish addiction via measuring platelets lipid peroxidation and protein carboxylation using carbonyl groups content assay and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay, respectively.…”