Evolution of rheological properties of erythrocytes and left ventricular geometry in cardiovascular disease risk patients
Issue title: Selected Proceedings of the 15th Conference of the European Society for Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation (ESCHM), June 28–July 1, 2009, Pontresina, Switzerland
Affiliations: Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland | Chair of Pharmacology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland | Department of General Medicine and Geriatrics, The University Hospital, Krakow, Poland
Note: [] Corresponding author: Maria Fornal, Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, ul. Sniadeckich 10, 31-351 Kraków, Poland. Tel.: +48 124248800; Fax: +48 124248854; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: The evolution of rheological properties of erythrocytes and geometrical parameters of left ventricle during therapies aimed at reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk has been investigated. The study group consisted of 29 individuals who were diagnosed with the presence of at least one CVD risk factor at the time of entry to the study. Appropriate therapies were applied and the patients were followed for two years. Two groups of patients could be distinguished. The first group consisted of 12 individuals who were rigorously applying the therapy and for whom blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL and glucose returned to normal levels. The second group included 17 patients for whom the above mentioned parameters remained pathological in spite of the applied therapy. In the first group, erythrocyte deformability as well as LVMI improved: deformability increased on average by 17% (p < 0.025), whereas LVMI decreased by 8% but not in a statistically significant manner (p < 0.27). In the second group, the results indicate worsening of both hemorheological properties and left ventricular geometry: RBC deformability became lower by 15% (p < 0.00001) and LVMI increased by 18% although this change was not statistically significant (p < 0.19). The results indicate that blood rheology improves when the CVD risk is reduced by administered therapy and worsens when the risk increases. Similar behavior shows LVMI. It is very likely that left ventricular geometry is influenced by blood rheology.
Keywords: Erythrocyte deformability, left ventricular geometry, CVD risk
