Blood viscosity in young male diabetics with and without retinopathy

Abstract

Blood viscosity (shear rates 100s -1 and 0.94s -1) and several of its major determinants (haematocrit, plasma fibrinogen and plasma viscosity) have been measured in 38 male insulin-treated diabetics, aged 18-50 years, and in 38 non-diabetic control subjects matched for age and smoking habit. Diabetics without fundoscopic retinopathy (n= 20) had higher mean blood viscosity than controls at the high shear rate (7.07 cP vs 6.75 cP, p < 0.05) and the low shear rate (21.2 cP vs 18.7 cP, p < 0.025). These differences persisted after correction of blood viscosity to a standard haematocrit, and were associated with increased plasma viscosity (1.41 cP vs 1.34 cP, p < 0.025) and plasma fibrinogen (2.9 g/L vs. 2.5 g/ L, p < 0.025). Diabetics with retinopathy (n = 18) had higher mean blood viscosity than diabetics without retinopathy at the high shear rate (7.53 cP vs 7.07 cP, p < 0.05) and the low shear rate (24.3 cP vs. 21.2cP, p < 0.05), associated with a higher haematocrit (p < 0.05).Blood viscosity and haematocrit correlated with the duration of diabetes (r > 0.32, p < 0.05).

Highly Sensitive Detection of Red Blood Cell Aggregation with Ultrasonic Peak Frequency

“…It is known that blood viscosity has a close relationship with diabetes and circulatory system disease. [1][2][3][4] Frequent measurement is considered to be effective in preventing these diseases.…”

Drop-of-sample rheometry of biological fluids by noncontact acoustic tweezing spectroscopy

“…Whole blood and blood plasma viscosities are well recognized biomarkers of ischemic heart disease, stroke, myocardial infarction and hypertension, [71][72][73][74][75] hematological disorders, 76 cancer, 77,78 diabetes. 79 Hypercoagulable state in smokers, 80 and aging. 81 Viscoelastic analysis of whole blood and blood plasma [82][83][84] is performed to assess blood coagulation status and predict bleeding/thrombosis risks in critical care patients, [85][86][87][88][89] patients on anticoagulant therapy, 90 patients with diseases impacting the coagulation system, [91][92][93][94][95] and patients with clotting disorders such as hemophilia and thrombophilia.…”

Using mathematics to avoid blindness in diabetics (Part 2): eliminating re-emergent diabetic retinopathy caused by blood thinners

“…Increased blood viscosity is widely recognized as a contributing factor to cerebro-and cardiovascular diseases. [1][2][3] While elevated blood viscosity also has a role in diabetic retinopathy (DR), [1][2][3] relative reductions in blood viscosity in individuals with DR appear to worsen retinopathy, 4 and contribute toward exudate formation that induces retinopathy and macular edema. 4 The primary author of this paper, Arieh Helfgott (AH), recently experienced re-emergence of DR and macula edema in August 2021 subsequent to commencing clopidogrel and aspirin, which significantly reduce blood viscosity, after being free of symptomatic DR for the past 17 years without laser treatments or bevacizumab injections and while using five concurrent treatments.…”