The contribution of haemorheology to the understanding of microcirculatory disorders. An introductory overview.

As a result of continuing advances in methods and instrumentation, our knowledge of the flow behaviour of blood has considerably increased in recent years. At present, however, in an attempt to understand the pathophysiological events occurring within the microcirculation, it does not appear possible to directly extrapolate data and information obtained from ex vivo studies to the in vivo condition. In spite of this, in vitro studies on the flow behaviour of blood are of diagnostic, and possibly prognostic, value, in that they provide a means to assess a 'factor of risk'. Within the framework of experimental and clinical pharmacological studies, haemorheological data may also contribute substantially to a better understanding of the mechanism of action of drugs.