Journal article
Cardiovascular benefits of phlebotomy: relationship to changes in hemorheological variables
Perfusion, v 29(2), pp 102-116
01 Mar 2014
PMID: 24045034
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Renewed interest in the age-old concept of "bloodletting", a therapeutic approach practiced until as recently as the 19th century, has been stimulated by the knowledge that blood loss, such as following regular donation, is associated with significant reductions in key hemorheological variables, including whole blood viscosity (WBV), plasma viscosity, hematocrit and fibrinogen. An elevated WBV appears to be both a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease and an important factor in the development of atherosclerosis. Elevated WBV through wall shear stress is the most direct physiological parameter that influences the rupture and erosion of vulnerable plaques. In addition to WBV reduction, phlebotomy may reduce an individual's cardiovascular risk through reductions in excessive iron, oxidative stress and inflammation. Reflecting these findings, blood donation in males has shown significant drops in the incidence of cardiovascular events, as well as in procedures such as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting. Collectively, the available data on the benefits of therapeutic phlebotomy point to the importance of monitoring WBV as part of a cardiovascular risk factor, along with other risk-modifying measures, whenever an increased cardiovascular risk is detected. The development of a scanning capillary tube viscometer allows the measurement of WBV in a clinical setting, which can prove to be valuable in providing an early warning sign of an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
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Details
- Title
- Cardiovascular benefits of phlebotomy: relationship to changes in hemorheological variables
- Creators
- R. E. Holsworth - 1Southeast Colorado Hospital, Springfield, CO, USA.Y. I. Cho - Drexel UniversityJ. J. Weidman - Thomas Jefferson UniversityG. D. Sloop - 4Benefis Hospitals, Great Falls, MT, USAJ. A. St Cyr - Jacqmar Inc, Minneapolis, MN USA
- Publication Details
- Perfusion, v 29(2), pp 102-116
- Publisher
- Sage
- Number of pages
- 15
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000337567200002
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84896851829
- Other Identifier
- 991019167660304721
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InCites Highlights
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
- Peripheral Vascular Disease