The influence of persistent hyperglycaemia on hyperfibrinogenaemia and hyperviscosity in diabetes mellitus.
The effect of hyperglycaemia on hyperfibrinogenaemia and its consequence on plasma viscosity was investigated in 69 diabetic patients during the course of hypoglycaemic treatment. Glycaemic control was assessed by measurement of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1). Plasma fibrinogen concentration (PFC) was determined by a clot-weight method. The relative plasma viscosity (RPV) was measured by capillary viscometry. The mean PFC and RPV were significantly (p < 0.001) elevated in the diabetic patients as compared with a non-diabetic control group. Both PFC and RPV showed a distinct, step-wise increase with progressively poorer glycaemic control. The data strongly indicate that persistent hyperglycaemia is associated with a frank hyperfibrinogenaemia and hyperviscous plasma in most of the diabetic patients studied. These abnormal haemorrheological changes could impact adversely on both the haemostatic process and circulation in diabetic patients.
Reid
H L
HL
Departments of Basic Medical Sciences (Physiology Section), Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica. hlreid@uwimona.edu.jm
Vigilance
J
J
Wright-Pascoe
R A
RA
Choo-Kang
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000502:physiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D005340:Fibrinogen