Effects of fat on blood viscosity in dogs.

Intravenous fat injections cause significant increases in blood viscosity. Nonemulsified or poorly emulsified oil produces pulmonary and other embolization. Plasma is lost rapidly and in alarming degree. The hematocrit increases rapidly and is accompanied by a nearly parallel increase in blood viscosity. Oil in stable emulsion in blood plasma or lymph can be injected in greater doses. Slow, but significant increases in the blood viscosity develop to maximum in 10 to 24 hours. Varying degrees of paralysis follow. The loss of plasma is not so marked, and increase in hematocrit is not sufficient to account for increase in viscosity.