Hyperviscosity syndrome is a group of symptoms triggered by increase in the viscosity of the blood. Symptoms of high blood viscosity include spontaneous bleeding from mucous membranes, visual disturbances due to retinopathy, and neurologic symptoms ranging from headache and vertigo to seizures and coma.
Hyperviscosity syndrome may be caused by an increase in serum proteins or cells. Increased levels of proteins are seen with monoclonal gammopathies such as Waldenström macroglobulinemia and in multiple myeloma (particularly IgA and IgG3). High cell counts are seen in conditions such as polycythemia (raised red blood cells) or leukemia (more white blood cells, especially in acute leukemic blast crises).
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