[Viscosity of blood, plasma and serum, in the vessels of the lesser and greater circulation in rheumatic mitral heart defect].

The study was conducted in 44 patients with rheumatic mitral and combined mitral valve disease in its inactive phase with circulatory insufficiency of Stage II, III or IV, according to the classification by A. N. Bakulev and E. A. Damir, and in 30 normal individuals. The viscosity of blood and serum flowing in different organs and tissues was found to undergo no changes and to be not dependent on the severity of circulatory insufficiency. It was concluded that the viscosity of blood in a peripheral vein may be used for judging its ability to flow in various points of the vascular bed. The viscosity of plasma was found to alter when passing through the brain, muscle tissue, splanchnic organs and the lungs.