RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEMORHEOLOGICAL AND MICROCIRCULATORY ABNORMALITIES IN DIABETES-MELLITUS

From numerous studies, it is now well known that diabetes mellitus is usually accompanied by miscellaneous hemorheological disturbances. The se may alter the microcirculatory flow and lead ultimatly to tissue ch ronic hypoxia. In this report, red blood cell aggregation characterist ics and transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) have been evaluated in diabetic patients without any sign of angiopathy. Results showed a ten dency towards erythrocyte hyperaggregation in diabetic patients, even when under good glycaemic control. TcPO2 measurements, were found to b e significantly lower in diabetic patients than in control subjects. F urthermore, the TcPO2 values were related with the aggregation paramet ers, confirming thereby the existence of an inter-relationship and thu s the possible role played by hemorheological parameters in oxygen tra nsport to tissues and hence in the pathogenesis of microangiopathy at the functional level.