Affiliations: Department of Neurology, Medical University, 1, Ljuben Russev str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria | Institute of Mechanics and Biomechanics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev str. Bl. 4, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria | Military Medical Academy, 5, G. Sofijski str., 1606 Sofia, Bulgaria
Note: [] Corresponding author: Assoc. Prof. Irena Velcheva, MD, PhD, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Sofia, 1, L. Russev str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria. Tel.: +359 2 9702 209; E-mail: ivelcheva@yahoo.com.
Abstract: The study aimed to follow the relationship between some hemorheological variables and the main risk factors (RF) for carotid atherosclerosis (CA). Carotid atherosclerosis was evaluated by color duplex sonography of the carotid arteries in 18 patients with RF for CA, 31 patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), 21 patients with chronic unilateral cerebral infarctions (UCI) and 11 healthy subjects without RF for CA. The examined hemorheological variables were whole blood and plasma viscosity, hematocrit and fibrinogen. They were correlated with intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid and the internal carotid arteries and with other main RF for CA: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, and hyperlipidemia. The hemorheological investigation showed an increase in blood and plasma viscosity at different shear rates and it was more expressed in the group with UCI. The neurosonographic investigation revealed an increase in the IMT and carotid artery stenoses in the patients' groups with CVD. These were also more frequent in the patients with UCI. Different correlations were established between the hemorheological parameters, the IMT of the carotid arteries and other RF for CA. In the group with UCI, the hematocrit and the whole blood viscosity correlated significantly with the IMT, arterial blood pressure and cholesterol values. These data confirm the influence of the hemorheological parameters on carotid blood vessel walls and on blood flow in patients with CVD.
Keywords: Blood and plasma viscosity, risk factors, carotid atherosclerosis, carotid intima media thickness
