[Changes in blood filterability induced by risk factors for cardiovascular disease]

Our research was aimed at testing the role of the main cardiovascular risk factors in modifying the blood flow in microcirculation and in particular red cell deformability. To this end we determined by the method proposed by Reid and Dormandy (J. Clin. Pharmacol. 1976, 29, 855) whole-blood filterability in 15 smokers, 18 diabetics, 14 hypertensives, 16 dislipidemics, without clinical evidence of ischemic pathology and with negative vascular pathology anamnesis. In diabetics, hypertensives and dislipidemics blood filterability turned out to be significantly lower (p less than 0,001) that in 15 controls. In smokers it was also lower, although in a less significant way.