Viscoelastic parameters in whole blood of patients with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis

Viscoelastic parameters were measured in whole blQod of 19 multiple sclerosis patients (all of whom exhibited spastic paraparesis from chronic progressive disease course) and compared to age- and gender-matched control values of healthy subjects using an oscillatory capillary rheometer.

At shear rates of 10 and 50 s⁻¹ elasticity of multiple sclerosis patients was found to be significantly increased whereas filtration index, shear resistance and aggregation index of erythrocytes were equal in patients and control subjects. No differences were found when viscoelastic parameters of young (28–50 years) were compared to those of elderly (51–65 years) patients. Male patients showed higher elasticity values at a shear rate of 10 s⁻¹ than female patients. Severely impaired multiple sclerosis patients (EIS score 7–8) showed higher elasticity values at a shear rate of 50 s⁻¹ than patients with less neurological impairment (EIS score 4–6).

Our results indicate that elastic parameters are increased in whole blood of multiple sclerosis patients in comparison to controls, especially at low shear rates, even more so in male patients and in patients with severe neurological impairment.

It is concluded that a subgroup of multiple sclerosis patients might be at risk for thromboembolic complications and might benefit from hemodilution therapy or the application of drugs inhibiting platelet aggregation.