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Peripheral Ischaemia Caused by Blood Hyperviscosity 1
Author(s) -
McGrath Michael A.,
Tracy G. Douglas,
Lord Reginald S. A.,
Penny Ronald
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1973.tb07320.x
Subject(s) - hyperviscosity , medicine , hyperviscosity syndrome , diabetes mellitus , abnormality , blood viscosity , ischemia , disease , cardiology , radiology , surgery , multiple myeloma , endocrinology , psychiatry
This report concerns 12 male patients who presented with digital ischcemia associated with blood hyperviscosity. The diagnosis of hyperviscosity was anticipated in eight cases by the presence of palpable peripheral pulses, but in four other patients with diabetes mellitus or atherosclerosis obliterans, hyperviscosity was an unexpected additional finding. A wide variety of conditions were identified as responsible for the blood hyperviscosity. Detection of the precise abnormality is important, since specific therapy may improve or correct both the condition and its related clinical manifestations. The prognosis of unrecognized hyperviscosity is poor, because of progression of the primary disease and associated ischemic complications. There is also an increased likelihood of morbidity following angiography or arterial reconstruction.