Red blood cells in humans-and most other mammals-have a tendency to form aggregates with a characteristic face-to-face morphology, similar to a stack of coins. Known as rouleaux, these aggregates are a normally occurring phenomenon and have a major impact on blood rheology. What is the underlying mechanism that produces this pattern? Does this real

Oguz Baskurt is a Professor of physiology at Koc University School of Medicine, Istanbul Turkey. His research is focused on the role of hemorheological factors in in vivo flow dynamics of blood, and he has conducted research on the mechanisms of red blood cell aggregation and hemorheological instrumentation. His scientific interest also includes comparative aspects of circulatory physiology and hemorheology in a wide variety of mammalian species. He has published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers and is among the editors of Handbook of Hemorheology and Hemodynamics (IOS Press, 2007) and the international journal Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation. He served as the president of The International Society of Clinical Hemorheology for two terms between 1999 and 2005.

Bjorn Neu is a Professor of Bioengineering at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He received his Doctorate in Biophysics in 1999 at the Humboldt University in Berlin and did post-doctoral research in the area of hemorheology at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California in Los Angeles. His research interests include cell interactions, polymers at bio-interfaces and the rheological behavior of blood.

Herbert J. Meiselman is Professor and Vice-Chair of Physiology and Biophysics at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, where he conducts research in the field of blood rheology in health and disease, including comparative studies of various mammalian species. He is among the editors of the Handbook of Hemorheology and Hemodynamics (IOS Press, 2007) and the international journals Biorheology and Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation. He has published more than 250 peer-reviewed papers, has received the F aeus Award and the Poiseuille Gold Medal, and is currently President of the International Society for Clinical

Introduction. Determinants of Red Blood Cell Aggregation. Mechanism of Red Blood Cell Aggregation. Measurement of Red Blood Cell Aggregation. Effect of Red Blood Cell Aggregation on In Vitro Blood Rheology. Effect of Red Blood Cell Aggregation on Tube Flow. In Vivo Hemodynamics and Red Blood Cell Aggregation. Alterations in Red Blood Cell Aggregation. Comparative Aspects of Red Blood Cell Aggregation. Index.