Effect of low fibrinogen concentrations on the rheology of human blood in vitro.

The influence of low concentrations of fibrinogen on the rheology of normal human blood was investigated with an instrument that permitted simultaneous determination of viscosity and the state of red blood cell aggregation and deformation. Fibrinogen, in concentrations of 9-82 mg/100 ml, decreased blood viscosity at all shear rates below the value obtained with red blood cells suspended in serum. At concentrations above 116 mg/100 ml viscosity was increased. Aggregate formation increased progressively as the fibrinogen concentration increased, necessitating higher dispersing shear rates. The deformation and alignment of the red cells, occurring at a shear rate of 230 s-1, was facilitated by low concentrations. The effect of fibrinogen on low-shear viscosity is explained by the formation of different kinds of aggregates. At low concentrations, the aggregates consist of only few cells forming spherelike particles displaying hemodynamic properties better than those of the single discoid cells. At normal or high concentrations big rodlike aggregates occur and increase resistance to flow.