title: Association between blood viscosity and common carotid artery elasticity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Elastic properties of the vessel wall are associated with atherosclerosis and major cardiovascular events. Several physiological and pathological conditions can affect arterial elasticity, but few studies have considered the role of hemorheological parameters. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between hemorheological parameters and vascular stiffness in the carotid artery district.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and two individuals were enrolled. Blood and plasma viscosity were measured by a cone-plate viscometer (Wells-Brookfield DV-III, Stoughton, U.S.A.). Echo-Doppler evaluation of carotid arteries was performed in order to calculate elastic indexes (strain, β-stiffness index and distensibility). The association between hemorheological parameters and carotid elasticity indexes was assessed by simple and multiple regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In simple correlation analysis, only blood viscosity was directly associated with β-stiffness index (r = 0.20, p = 0.05) and inversely with strain (r =-0.26, p = 0.01) and distensibility (r =-0.34, p = 0.001). After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, blood viscosity, but not plasma viscosity or hematocrit, was independently associated carotid arterial measures, together with age, obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study demonstrate a strong association between blood viscosity and common carotid elasticity indexes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, "Magna Græcia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tripolino
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, "Magna Græcia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Irace
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, "Magna Græcia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carallo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, "Magna Græcia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Serena
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: De Franceschi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, "Magna Græcia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Faustina
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scavelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, "Magna Græcia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.|Department of Public Health, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Della Valle
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, "Magna Græcia" University, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Agostino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gnasso
mesh_terms: D001809:Blood Viscosity; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Blood viscosity; carotid elasticity; plasma viscosity; ultrasound