[Blood rheology in chronic arterial occlusive disease as influenced by vasodilators (author's transl)].

Increased blood and plasma viscosity was found in patients with chronic arterial occlusion in comparison with healthy probands. The measurements were done at high and low shear rates. Parenteral pentoxifylline (Trental) lowered blood and plasma viscosity of patients significantly, especially when measured at low shear rates. Application of bencyclane (Fludilat) produced variable results. A definite connection between rheological changes and alterations of the protein fractions in plasma could not be established.