Are rheological markers of poor prognosis present in diabetic arteriopathies?

One of the traits of type I and II diabetes lies in the presence of extensi ve rheological disorders. Rheological changes appear during infancy, mainly in type I diabetes: decreased red cell deformability, leukocyte rigidity, monocyte activation, alteration in microvessel flux (sludge) and functions. Such disorders are however sensitive to insulin and metabolic correction f or a long period. Macrorheological disorders develop at the lime of puberty and when lipid changes and vascular complications appear (hypertension, vi sceral obesity, atherosclerosis). Such changes have potent effects on diabe tic arteriopathy, as shown by altered TcPO2. Numerous medical teams are tak ing into account red cell aggregation measurements reflecting post-capillar y flux behavior. In addition, a proposed score may be used based on fibrino gen, hematocrit, triglycerides as viscosity acting factors, and endothelial markers, Willebrand factor and VCAM-1. An increased score is an indication of suspected distal functional alteration of microvessels.