Assessment of parameters of blood viscosity in diabetic patients with and without vascular complications

ABSTRACT

Diabetic microangiopathy is closely related to metabolic and microcirculatory abnormalities which are secondary to hemorrheological abnormalities. Increased blood viscosity is also an important factor for the occurrence of coronary heart disease in diabetic patients. In this work various parameters of hyperviscosity were studied including hematocrit value, blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, fibrinogen fasting and post prandial blood sugar, in 20 diabetic patients with macro-vascular complications [coronary heart disease], 35 diabetic with micro-vascular complications [retinopathy]. Significant increase in hematocrit, blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, fibrinogen, fasting and post increase in hematocrit, blood sugar in diabetics compared to healthy controls. Comparison was highly significant concerning those diabetics with vascular complications. Hematocrit plasma viscosity and whole blood viscosity were highest in the group of diabetic patients with microvascular complications. On the other hand, highest fibrinogen levels were noticed mainly in the diabetic group with macro-vascular complications [coronary heart disease]