Hemorheological alterations in mild essential hypertension

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Hemodynamics
• Hypertension Research

Background:

• Essential hypertension (EHT) is a prevalent cardiovascular condition.
• Understanding early-stage hemorheological changes in EHT is crucial for pathogenesis insights.
• Blood rheology encompasses blood viscosity, red blood cell deformability, and erythrocyte aggregation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate blood rheological properties in newly diagnosed, untreated patients with essential hypertension (WHO degree I-II).
• To evaluate parameters including whole blood filterability, blood viscosity, red cell deformability, erythrocyte aggregation, fibrinogen, and hematocrit.
• To determine if hemorheological alterations are present at the early stages of EHT.

Main Methods:

• Study included 21 de novo diagnosed EHT patients and a control group.
• Assessed whole blood filterability (WBF), blood viscosity (BV) at high (230 s-1) and low (23 s-1) shear rates.
• Evaluated red cell deformability (FI), erythrocyte aggregation in autologous (MEA) and normal plasma (MEAc), fibrinogen (Fbg), and hematocrit (Ht).

Main Results:

• Hypertensive patients exhibited significantly decreased WBF (p < 0.001).
• Increased blood viscosity (BV) and reduced red cell deformability (FI) were observed in EHT patients (p < 0.001).
• Elevated erythrocyte aggregation (MEA) and fibrinogen (Fbg) levels were noted, though with less statistical significance (p < 0.01); hematocrit (Ht) showed no difference.

Conclusions:

• Newly diagnosed essential hypertension is associated with significant hemorheological alterations.
• These include impaired blood flow, reduced red blood cell flexibility, and increased aggregation tendencies.
• These early rheological changes may contribute to the pathogenesis of essential hypertension.