Blood rheology in IgA nephropathy.

Blood rheology was measured in 35 patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and compared with age and sex-matched normal controls. Whole blood viscosity, red blood cell deformability and plasma viscosity were significantly altered in patients with IgAN. A correlation between determinants of blood rheology and clinical indices of IgAN was found. The factor(s) causing the rheological abnormalities was (were) not defined. Increased blood viscosity may cause intraglomerular pressure to rise and filtration to increase and may contribute to the development of mesangial lesions. It is proposed that abnormal blood rheology may be a causal factor in the pathogenesis of IgAN.