WHOLE-BLOOD VISCOSITY AND HEMATOCRIT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNAL CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN MEN

Background Alterations in blood viscosity and haematocrit have been de scribed in patients with coronary and cerebrovascular diseases. The re sults have not been conclusive, as modifications of these parameters a re often associated with the presence of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors. The aim of this study was to verify whether blood viscos ity and haematocrit are increased in patients with carotid atheroscler osis, independently of the presence of CHD risk factors. Methods Male patients with internal carotid atherosclerosis (ICA+, n = 28) were sel ected from participants in a cardiovascular disease prevention campaig n. Controls (ICA-, n = 28), also participating in the prevention campa ign, were matched for age and all the classical CHD risk factors. Plas ma lipids, glucose and fibrinogen were determined by routine methods. Cigarette smoking and current drug therapy was established by question naire. Whole blood viscosity was measured at shear rates of 450 and 22 5/s, using a cone-plate viscometer, Echo-Doppler of carotid arteries w as performed with an ATL Ultramark 9 HDI using a 5-10 MHz multifrequen cy probe. Results Blood pressure, plasma lipids, glucose, body mass in dex, fibrinogen and plasma viscosity were similar in the two groups. I CA+ patients, compared with the ICA- group, had significantly greater values of blood viscosity (4.52 +/- 0.37 cP compared with 4.18 +/- 0.4 5 cP, P< 0.005 respectively; shear rate 450/s) and haematocrit (48.57 +/- 3.19% compared with 45.57 +/- 4.81%, P< 0.008 respectively). Concl usions Our findings demonstrate that blood viscosity and haematocrit a re increased in men with internal carotid atherosclerosis, independent ly of the presence of risk factors for atherosclerosis. Coronary Arter y Dis 9:113-117 (C) 1998 Lippincott-Raven Publishers.