The role of hemorheology in the pathophysiology and treatment of arterial occlusive disease.

Hemorheological types of treatment are more and more used in the field of clinical angiology. On the other hand a good portion of criticism is necessary not to go the wrong way. In spite of really attractive pathophysiological ideas the bed side situation is quite a different affair. Up to now it is not clear under which conditions and to what extent pathological hemorheological values are causative or at least aggravating factors of arterial occlusive diseases and the resultant functional impairment. So the essential points of what is called "clinical hemorheology" are not yet solved. Direct observation and documentation of hemorheological induced clinically interesting effects in humans as well as the serious trial to give definitions of clinical conditions in which the effects obtained are of clinical relevance are extremely necessary to enlighten an attractive and exciting component of clinical angiology.