Hyperfibrinogenemia and hyperviscous plasma in hypertensive Africans.
Changes in plasma fibrinogen concentrations (PFC) and relative plasma viscosity (RPV) were investigated in 61 Nigerian Africans while they were being treated for essential hypertension. The association of these hemorheologic variables with blood pressure was examined. An analogous study was done on 30 normotensive controls for comparison. The hypertensive patients had, overall, a significant increase in both PFC and RPV (p < 0.001) as compared with control values. However, 44.3% of the hypertensive patients had PFC and RPV values within the defined normal limits. This indicates that in a proportion of the hypertensives, treatment notwithstanding, PFC and RPV are altered only within the physiologic limits. Comparison of PFC and RPV with the degree of hypertension (mild: diastolic blood pressure (DBP) = 90mmHg; moderate: DBP = 91-99mmHg; severe: DBP > or = 100mmHg) showed significant stepwise increases at the moderate and severe levels as compared with the mild level of hypertension. The hyperfibrinogenemia and concomitant hyperviscous plasma observed in the present study could either play a role in the pathogenesis of the hypertension or be the consequence of the hypertension itself, at least in some patients.
Reid
H L
HL
Department of Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Benin, Nigeria, West Africa.
Ojogwu
L I
LI
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria
D005340:Fibrinogen