complications

Last reviewed 01/2018

The consequences of a hyperviscous state may include:

  • mucosal bleeding
  • visual disturbances - from distension and tortuosity of retinal veins, with narrowing at arteriovenous crossing, producing a segmented "sausage link" pattern; retinal haemorrhage; rarely, papilloedema
  • CNS disturbances - vertigo, convulsions, alterations in mental status
  • right sided congestive heart failure
  • rheological claudication
  • proximal renal tubular acidosis or acute renal failure - due to increased excretion of light chains in certain hyperglobulinaemias