Study of endothelial function in relation to haemorrheologic and haemodynamic abnormalities in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

ABSTRACT

In order to study the alteration in hemostatic, hemorrheologic and endothelial functional parameters in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy [DCM] a test group of 30 patients suffering from this cardiac disorder were studied in comparison to 20 healthy individual of matched age and sex. All patients and control subjects were subjected to through history taking, full clinical examination and the and the following investigations; ECG, x-ray chest, Echo-Doppler study and laboratory investigation including blood picture, hematocrit value, ESR, plasma viscosity, prothrombin time and activity [PT] activated partial thromboplastin time [APTT], plasma fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor [vWF]. The study revealed significant alterations in most of the studied hemostatic and hemorrheological parameters and endothelial functions. A significant negative correlation between plasma vWF and echocardiographic EF and FS which points to an intimate relation of endothelial dysfunction and deterioration of LV function in patients with DCM