Whole Blood Viscosity in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension is Correlated to the Lipid Composition of Erythrocyte Plasma Membrane

Abstract

Whole blood viscosity (WBV) at high (WBV₁ and low (WBV₁) shear rates and plasma viscosity (PV) was measured in 10 hypertensive pregnant patients (PIH), in 10 gestational controls (PC) and in 10 non pregnant women (NP). In the same groups cholesterol (C) to phospholipid (P) ratio (C/PL) of the erythrocyte membrane was evaluated. WBV₁ was significantly higher in PIH than in the other groups, while neither WBV_h or PV were altered. C/PL resulted significantly higher in PIH compared to PC or NP. A positive correlation was found between C/PL and WBV only for the PIH group. We conclude that the abnormal lipid composition of the RBC membrane in PIH may be involved in the altered rheology observed in this condition.

Key Words:

• pregnancy induced hypertension
• blood viscosity
• membrane cholesterol
• C/PL