BACKGROUNDTo study the variation of the hemorheology and microcirculation in different period of liver diseases.

METHODSIndices for hemorheology, liver function, HBV DNA and transfusion transmitted virus (TTV) DNA were measured in 82 patients with liver diseases and correlative analysis was made.

RESULTSThe low-shear whole blood viscosity (BV) and RBC aggregation index were significantly higher in hepatitis B group than those in the control group (P less than 0.05). No correlation was found between HBV DNA and indices of hemorheology (P greater than 0.05). The high-shear and low-shear BV and hematocrit (HCT) were significantly lower in decompensated cirrhosis group than those in the control group (P less than 0.05). RBC aggregation index, plasma viscosity (PV) and the low-shear BV were significantly higher in compensated cirrhosis group than those in the control group (P less than 0.05). The high-shear and low-shear BV were significantly higher in TTV positive group than those in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThere is disturbance of microcirculation in the body of patients with hepatitis B or TTV infection. The blood of patients with compensated cirrhosis is in highly viscose status and in low viscose status in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. TTV seems to be harmful to some degree to the body. The hemorheology should be an index in detecting liver diseases in addition to HBV markers.