EFFECTS OF TOURNIQUET APPLICATION ON PLASMA VISCOSITY MEASUREMENTS

Reliable plasma viscosity measurements are required for cardiovascular risk factor assessment. This study was designed to examine the influe nce of tourniquet pressure and duration on plasma viscosity measuremen t with a coaxial cylinder at 37 degrees C. Plasma viscosity was evalua ted at low (40 mm Hg) and high (mean arterial blood pressure plus 10 m mHg) tourniquet pressure and at two time intervals following (0-1 and 4-5 min) of tourniquet application in 38 healthy adults. Longer durati on of tourniquet application was accompanied by a significant increase in plasma viscosity at both low (1.356 +/- 0.067 mPas versus 1.393 +/ - 0.067 mPas (p = 0.0001)) and high (1.321 +/- 0.071 mPa s versus 1.43 0 +/- 0.086 mPa s (p = 0.0002)) tourniquet pressures. Plasma viscosity values were not influenced by the magnitude of tourniquet pressure. T he accuracy of plasma viscosity measurements can be improved by sample acquisition within 1 min following tourniquet application.