Relationship between hemorheological and microcirculatory abnormalities in diabetes mellitus

From numerous studies, it is now well known that diabetes mellitus is usually accompanied by miscellaneous hemorheological disturbances. These may alter the microcirculatory flow and lead ultimately to tissue chronic hypoxia. In this report, red blood cell aggregation characteristics and transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) have been evaluated in diabetic patients without any sign of angiopathy. Results showed a tendency towards erythrocyte hyperaggregation in diabetic patients, even when under good glycaemic control. TcPO2 measurements, were found to be significantly lower in diabetic patients than in control subjects. Furthermore, the TcPO2 values were related with the aggregation parameters, confirming thereby the existence of an inter-relationship and thus the possible role played by hemorheological parameters in oxygen transport to tissues and hence in the pathogenesis of microangiopathy at the functional level.