Association of blood viscosity with first-pass reperfusion in mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND: Elevated blood viscosity has been reported as a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease. OBJECTIVE: The relationship between blood viscosity and outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for large artery occlusion (Lao) were investigated in the present study. METHODS: A total of 238 patients were enrolled and systolic blood viscosity (SBV) and diastolic blood viscosity (DBV) were measured using the scanning capillary tube viscometer. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to specify the association of viscosity with the first-pass reperfusion (FPR). Multivariable and regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship of viscosity with FPR and various variables. RESULTS: Based on ROC analysis, the best DBV cutoff value was 10.55 (cP). In multivariable analysis, high DBV was associated with FPR failure (odds ratio 2.82, 95% confidence interval 1.64-4.22; p=0.001). Increased DVB could be associated with elevated SBV, hematocrit level, and blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio (p=<0.001, 0.004, and 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated DBV was associated with FPR failure. Patients with high DBV had longer thrombus length and required more stent passages than patients with low DBV.