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Correlation between the hematocrit and slow coronary flow

Su Wang1, Yanyan Zhang2, Yutong Cheng1

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Beijing An Zhen Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation
|January 4, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Higher hematocrit levels are linked to slow coronary flow (SCF) in patients with near-normal arteries. This suggests increased hematocrit may play a role in the development of SCF.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Hematology

Background:

  • The role of hematocrit in the development of slow coronary flow (SCF) remains unclear.
  • SCF is characterized by reduced blood flow in coronary arteries despite a lack of significant obstructive lesions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between hematocrit levels and the prevalence and severity of SCF.
  • To determine if hematocrit is an independent predictor of SCF.

Main Methods:

  • A study of 367 patients with angiographically near-normal coronary arteries.
  • Patients were stratified into four hematocrit quartiles.
  • Coronary flow velocity was assessed using the corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count (TFC).

Main Results:

  • Higher hematocrit quartiles showed increased prevalence of SCF, particularly in the left anterior descending artery (LAD).
  • Hematocrit was positively correlated with corrected TFC for the LAD, indicating slower flow.
  • Multivariate analysis confirmed hematocrit as a significant correlate of SCF in the LAD after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated hematocrit is positively associated with slower coronary flow in the LAD.
  • Increased hematocrit may be a contributing factor to the pathophysiology of SCF.
Abstract

Keywords:
Hematocritrisk factorsslow coronary flow

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