As long as you recognize that clotting is a different process. =)
It’s been a few years since I studied this, but as far as I know, the physiological significance of rouleaux (including whether they block blood vessels) is unknown—don’t forget that they’re in equilibrium with the non-rouleaux form. Although cold temperatures will slow down that equilibrium, and possibly cause the problems you’re referring to.
As long as you recognize that clotting is a different process. =)
Of course.
It’s been a few years since I studied this, but as far as I know, the physiological significance of rouleaux (including whether they block blood vessels) is unknown—don’t forget that they’re in equilibrium with the non-rouleaux form.
I wouldn’t know, but Mike Darwin says they are harmful:
[...] irregular aggregation of RBCs rouleaux formation has a profound negative impact on perfusion.
I would have been much more convinced by data from a controlled experiment. A lot of things could cut off flow, as you pointed out, and there are a lot of things going wrong in a dying person. I’m actually not sure why he brought rouleaux into it—my understanding is that we already know the RBCs clump and that this blocks capillaries.
In any case, the main point I was trying to make was that reducing the number of RBCs in the brain is probably not the best way to go, unless we can figure out an alternative way to supply oxygen. Destroying the RBCs and letting the hemoglobin travel freely would probably help, but that would set off all sorts of damaging physiological responses as well.
They block blood vessels and prevent perfusion, which is why it’s equivalent to clotting.
As long as you recognize that clotting is a different process. =)
It’s been a few years since I studied this, but as far as I know, the physiological significance of rouleaux (including whether they block blood vessels) is unknown—don’t forget that they’re in equilibrium with the non-rouleaux form. Although cold temperatures will slow down that equilibrium, and possibly cause the problems you’re referring to.
Of course.
I wouldn’t know, but Mike Darwin says they are harmful:
I would have been much more convinced by data from a controlled experiment. A lot of things could cut off flow, as you pointed out, and there are a lot of things going wrong in a dying person. I’m actually not sure why he brought rouleaux into it—my understanding is that we already know the RBCs clump and that this blocks capillaries.
In any case, the main point I was trying to make was that reducing the number of RBCs in the brain is probably not the best way to go, unless we can figure out an alternative way to supply oxygen. Destroying the RBCs and letting the hemoglobin travel freely would probably help, but that would set off all sorts of damaging physiological responses as well.