Background: Increased level of blood viscosity, which is one of the major factors that determine blood rheology,\nhas been reported as a risk factor or predictor for cerebrovascular events. We investigated how blood viscosity is\nassociated with acute stroke and chronic radiological manifestations of cerebral small vessel disease, and how\nblood viscosity changes after stroke.\nMethods: We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke. Whole blood viscosities at a\nlow or high shear rate were measured using a scanning capillary tube viscometer, and were referred to as diastolic\nblood viscosity (DBV) and systolic blood viscosity (SBV), respectively. Correlations between blood viscosity and acute\nstroke etiology or chronic radiological manifestations of cerebral small vessel disease were investigated. The\ntemporal profiles of blood viscosity at the onset of stroke and follow-up at 1 and 5 weeks were investigated.\nResults: Of the 127 patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke, 63 patients were included in the final analyses.\nDBV at the onset of stroke was significantly higher in small artery occlusion (SAO) stroke than in other stroke\nsubtypes (p = 0.037). DBV showed a significant positive correlation with the number of chronic lacunes (r = 0.274, p\n= 0.030). The temporal profiles of DBV in SAO stroke showed a transient decrease due to the hydration therapy\nafter 1 week and recurrent elevation at 5 week follow-up (p = 0.009).\nConclusions: Our study suggests that elevated DBV may play a role in the development of acute and chronic\nmanifestations of cerebral small vessel disease. The recurring elevation of DBV in SAO stroke indicates that sufficient\nhydration and additional therapeutic interventions targeting blood viscosity may be needed in patients with SAO\nstroke.
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