HEMORHEOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE

Hemorheological parameters are primary risk factors in ischemic heart disease (IHD). In the present study the relation of these parameters t o the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) was examined. The data of 109 patients (mean age: 55 +/- 9 years) undergoing coronary angiog raphy and 59 healthy controls (mean age: 35 +/- 10 years) were analyze d. Hemorheological parameters (hematocrit, fibrinogen level, plasma vi scosity (PV) and apparent whole blood viscosity (WBV)) were determined and the circulatory index (CRI) was calculated. Patients were classif ied into three groups according to their coronary vessel state based o n the coronary angiogram: Group 1 (n = 19, mean age: 53 +/- 8 years) w ithout significant CAD, Group 2 (n = 19, mean age: 51 +/- 11 years) wi th single vessel disease, Group 3 (n = 71, mean age: 57 +/- 8 years) w ith multivessel disease. All the measured hemorheological parameters o f IHD patients were significantly higher than those of controls. Fibri nogen and PV were significantly elevated in Groups 2 and 3 compared wi th Group 1 (p < 0.05 and 0.01). Hematocrit and WBV. were significantly increased in Group 3 compared with Groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.05). CRI was significantly decreased in IHD patients, and it was also lower in Gro up 3 than in Group 2 (p < 0.05). These results indicate that hemorheol ogical parameters may play a role in the pathogenesis and development of CAD.