title: Alterations of haemorheological parameters in patients with peripheral arterial disease.
abstract: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), is a common manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis. Advances on the development of such vascular disease have described with a number of novel risk factors. Hyperviscosity, due to alterations of blood cells and plasma components, may play a role on the pathogenesis of the disease. Aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between hemorheological variables and PAD. The hemorheological variables [whole blood viscosity (WBV), erythrocyte deformability index (DI), plasma viscosity (PLV)] were analyzed in 90 patients and in 180 healthy subjects. WBV and PLV were measured by a Rotational Viscosimeter and DI by a filtrometer. DI and PLV were significantly different in patients as compared to controls. To investigate the possible association between these parameters and the disease we divided the study population into tertiles. At the univariate analysis, we found a significant association between the highest tertiles of PLV, of DI and the disease. A model adjusted for traditional risk factors showed an association between highest tertiles of PLV and PAD. After adjustment for confounding parameters highest tertiles of PLV remained to be significantly associated with the disease. Our data indicate that an alteration of plasma viscosity may modulate the predisposition to PAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sofi
authors.forename: A Alessandrello
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Liotta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fedi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Macchi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pratesi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pulli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pratesi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abbate
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mannini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability; D005260:Female; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Peripheral arterial disease; erythrocyte deformability index; hemorheological variables; plasma viscosity; whole blood viscosity