A Systematic Review of the Use of Biochemical Markers in the Assessment of Spinal Cord Ischemia in Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

Introduction:: Despite advances in perioperative critical care and surgical technique, spinal cord ischemia remains a devastating complication of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Biochemical markers present in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may be useful in assessing spinal cord injury. We systematically analyze and report the role of all reported biochemical markers that have been used in assessing and diagnosing spinal cord ischemia in thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

[Hemorheologic factors in hypertensive and diabetic retinopathy].

Hemorheological factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of different cardiovascular diseases. In the present study the fundus picture and hemorheological parameters (plasma and whole blood viscosity *WBV* by capillary viscosimetry; fibrinogen level; red blood cell aggregation by Myrenne and LORCA aggregometers) of 33 hypertensive patients (23 females, 10 males; mean age: 55 years) and 30 diabetic patients (14 females, 16 males; mean age: 57 years) and healthy controls were examined. The fundus pictures showed different forms of retinopathy in both groups.

Red blood cell aggregation measurements in whole blood and in fibrinogen solutions by different methods.

Red blood cell (RBC) aggregation is an important component of whole blood viscosity, especially at low shear rates, and is the major cause of the non-Newtonian flow properties of normal blood. In different laboratories several methods are used to determine RBC aggregation, therefore the standardization of aggregation measurements is especially important for getting comparable results. Aggregation indices of 62 human blood samples were determined by two different methods; LORCA (Laser-assisted Optical Rotational Cell Analyzer) and Myrenne aggregometers and related to plasma fibrinogen concentration.

Hemorheological alterations in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Hemorheological factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of different cardiovascular diseases. Diabetes mellitus resulting in micro- and macroangiopathies is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. In our present study the hemorheological parameters (hematocrit, plasma fibrinogen level, plasma and whole blood viscosity, red blood cell aggregation) of 30 diabetic patients (mean age: 57 +/- 12 years) and 30 healthy volunteers (mean age: 31 +/- 10 years) were examined.