Hemorrheologic changes in COPD patients with or without cor pulmonale

Summary In 34 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), some hemorrheologic parameters were measured and pulmonary arterial mean pressure (PAMP) was examined simultaneously. The results suggested that the whole Wood viscosity (high shear rate) and hematocrit were significantly higher in group with cor pulmonale than in group without cor pulmonale; the whole blood viscosity (low and high shear rate) and hematocrit were higher in group with pulmonary hypertension than in group without pulmonary hypertension. In addition, a significant correlation was detected between PAMP and whole blood viscosity (r = 0.4786;P<0.01). As the correlation coefficient was moderate, we suggest that blood viscosity only plays a secondary role in development of pulmonary hypertension in patients with COPD.