title: Hemorheological alterations in carotid artery stenosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) is not only an important risk factor of cerebrovascular events but it can also indicate generalized atherosclerosis. Hemorheological parameters are altered in CAS and in chronic cerebrovascular disorders as well, but it is controversial if hemorheological parameters could be markers of stenosis or atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  107 patients were investigated, 40% of them had stroke or TIA in case history and 48% had CAS. Routine lab parameters were determined and hemorheological variables were measured: hematocrit, plasma viscosity, whole blood viscosity, red blood cell aggregation, and deformability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the stenotic group whole blood viscosity and red blood cell aggregation were deteriorated (p < 0.05). Whole blood and plasma viscosity were higher and red blood cell deformability was lower in the symptomatic group (p < 0.05). Plasma viscosity and red blood cell deformability were altered in the evolving atherosclerosis group and the CAS groups compared to patients having no signs of stenosis (p < 0.05), but there was no difference among the CAS groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although hemorheological parameters are impaired both in CAS and chronic cerebrovascular disorders, the severity of stenosis cannot be detected based on hemorheological parameters. Our investigation suggests that alteration of hemorheological parameters could indicate carotid atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Medicine, University of Pecs, Medical School, Hungary.
authors.forename: Kinga
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Totsimon
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Pecs, Medical School, Hungary.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Medicine, University of Pecs, Medical School, Hungary.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sandor
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Medicine, University of Pecs, Medical School, Hungary.
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Biro
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Pecs, Medical School, Hungary.
authors.forename: Arpad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Csatho
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Pecs, Medical School, Hungary.
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Szapary
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Medicine, University of Pecs, Medical School, Hungary.
authors.forename: Kalman
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Medicine, University of Pecs, Medical School, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Marton
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Medicine, University of Pecs, Medical School, Hungary.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kenyeres
mesh_terms: D001809:Blood Viscosity; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Carotid artery stenosis; hematocrit; red blood cell aggregation; red blood cell deformability; viscosity