Elevated whole blood viscosity in patients with lumbar disc herniation.

BACKGROUND: Various vascular risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and diabetes mellitus are associated with hyperviscosity and lumbar disc herniation (LDH). However, the changes of viscosity in LDH have not been examined. AIMS: The present study was to elucidate 1) the rheological parameter levels in patients with LDH, 2) the risk factors that were related to rheological parameters. METHODS: Our study evaluated the rheological parameters in 307 cases with LDH and in 307 control subjects. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to assess the significant factors for whole blood viscosity (WBV) at low shear rate. RESULTS: LDH patients had markedly lower physical activity and significantly higher WBV3 s^-1 compared with non-LDH subjects (p < 0.001). Moreover, WBV (3 s^-1) tended to increase as physical activity decreased. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that reduced physical activity was a significant factor contributing to elevated WBV (3 s^-1). CONCLUSIONS: WBV (3 s^-1) is elevated in patients with LDH. In addition, reduced physical activity is a significant factor for WBV (3 s^-1). Further studies are warranted to determine the role of WBV (3 s^-1) in LDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]