Viscometer validation studies for routine and experimental hemorheological measurements.

Background: Viscosity measurement is challenging due to the internal properties of blood and the artifacts deriving from the various viscometer systems.

Objective: We aimed to determine the pitfalls of a cone-plate viscometer (Brookfield DV-III Ultra LV) before starting measurements and compare it to our capillary type model (Hemorex Hevimet 40). Effects of sample storage and thermal calibration were assessed as well.

Toe-brachial index and exercise test can improve the exploration of peripheral artery disease.

Background And Aims: We assumed that hand-held Doppler ultrasound (DUS) at rest was insufficient to assess the severity of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Toe pressure and transcutaneous tissue oxygen pressure were studied to prove whether these could identify more patients with severe lower limb ischemia; exercise was applied to provoke ischemia.

Methods: 120 patients with PAD and 30 volunteers without PAD were recruited.

Comparison of hemorheological changes in patients after acute coronary events, intervention and ambulatory rehabilitation.

During the past decades, our group have investigated the hemorheological parameters (HPs) of more than 1,000 patients with various forms of ischemic heart disease (IHD). Our data indicate that HPs are altered in patients with IHD and the extent of the alterations is in good correlation with the clinical severity of the disease. Our findings have also proven that HPs play a critical role in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia.

Hemorheological parameters and aging.

Background: There is increasing evidence that impaired hemorheological parameters are associated with increased risk of cardio- and cerebrovascular events. The aim of our present study was to examine the relationship of these parameters to the advancing age.

Methods: The data of 6236 cardio- and cerebrovascular patients (3774 males, mean age 59.

[Investigation of von Willebrand-factor as a marker of endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerotic patients].

Objective: To determine von Willebrand-factor activity as the marker of endothelium dysfunction in vascular diseases and to compare it to healthy controls.

Methods: von Willebrand-factor activity was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) in patients with acute coronary syndromes (29 patients, 67 +/- 13 years), acute stroke (15 pts, 67 +/- 12 years) on admission, 2nd and 6th day; and chronic vascular diseases (56 pts, 67 +/- 10 years) and was compared to the values of healthy controls (23 persons, 36 +/- 12 years).

Results: von Willebrand-factor activity was significantly (p < 0.

Measurement of von Willebrand factor as the marker of endothelial dysfunction in vascular diseases.

Background: von Willebrand factor is a blood glycoprotein that is required for normal hemostasis. Its level can be increased by endothelial cell damage.

Hypothesis: von Willebrand factor is a suitable marker of endothelial dysfunction.

Short-term effect of low-dose atorvastatin on haemorrheological parameters, platelet aggregation and endothelial function in patients with cerebrovascular disease and hyperlipidaemia.

Introduction And Objective: Haemorrheological parameters and endothelial function are known to be altered in vascular diseases, including stroke. Treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors ('statins') improves cerebrovascular (and cardiovascular) morbidity and mortality in patients with atherosclerosis; the beneficial effects may involve lipid-independent mechanisms. The aim of this study was to assess the short-term effect of low-dose atorvastatin on haemorrheological parameters, platelet aggregation and endothelial dysfunction in patients with chronic cerebrovascular disease and hyperlipidaemia.

[Effects of cardiovascular risk factors on hemorheologic parameters in cerebrovascular patients].

Introduction: Hemorheological factors are of significance in the determination of flow characteristics of blood and play an important role in the pathogenesis of cerebrovascular diseases.

Aims And Methods: In this study the changes of rheological factors--hematocrit (Hct), plasma fibrinogen concentration (PFC), whole blood (WBV) and plasma viscosity (PV), red blood cell aggregation (AI) and deformability and the association between these parameters and cardiovascular risk factors were investigated in 297 patients (173 males, 124 females, mean age: 60 11 years) with chronic phase (3 months after onset) ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, and in 68 healthy volunteers (30 males, 38 females, mean age: 36 6 years).

Results: All investigated hemorheological factors were significantly (p < 0.