Blood Viscosity in Behçet's Disease

Behçet's disease is the second major cause of vena cava superior syndrome after the malignancies. It is also known that patients with elevated blood viscosity have a higher risk of developing vein thrombosis. Therefore, we decided that investigation of blood viscosities of Behçet's disease patients may provide useful information and shed light upon this situation. 24 Behçet patients (13 men, 11 women) mean age: 32.41 ± 11.57 at complete stage were included in our study. Whole blood viscosity was measured at eight different shear rates ranging from 230 sec-1. to 1.15 sec -1. At all these shear rates in whole blood viscosity a significant increase was noted (P<0.05). Plasma viscosity measured at three different shear rates were also higher in Behcet patients. The difference was found significant (P<0.05). The packed cell viscosity was found to be lower in Behcet patients. As compared to the controls a significant increase in yield stress was also detected in Behcet cases. Thus it is demonstrated that the haemoreological changes are closely associated with Behcet's disease.