The determination of blood viscoelasticity in clinical hemorheology

A brief outline of the background of viscoelasticity of blood is given in order to derive for blood relevant parameters. In this context, especially one method, the sinusoidal oscillating capillary rheometry, is discussed. The determination of different parameters to characterize blood samples, e.g. the viscoelastic phase angle, an aggregation index, a flexibility index, hematocrit and plasma viscosity is described. Most of these parameters show increased values in disease; however they can be influenced by drug treatment.