The Effect of Iron Deficiency on Whole Blood Viscosity in Polycythaemic Patients

Abstract

Fe deficiency leads to significant increase in whole blood viscosity in polycythemic patients. This can be corrected by simultaneous treatment with Fe and venesection. In patients with polycythemia secondary to hypoxia the Hb concentration may be increased by treating coexisting Fe deficiency without altering whole blood viscosity, thus increasing O2 availability to the tissues. Values for whole blood viscosity can be derived from peripheral blood Hb and MCH [mean corpuscular Hb], allowing therapeutic decisions to be made based on simple hematological examination.