Relation Between Blood Plasma Viscosity and Presence of Vascular and Neurological Complications in Diabetic Africans

Summary

The relation between changes in plasma and serum viscosity and the presence of diabetic vascular and neurological complications was investigated in 50 diabetic Africans. Diabetics with complications had significantly elevated plasma and serum viscosity compared with those of both diabetics without complications and healthy non-diabetics. Hypertension also contributed to the elevation of plasma and serum viscosity in diabetics with complications. Plasma and serum viscosity of diabetics significantly correlated with the number of vascular and neurological complications. Diabetics with cerebrovascular disease had the highest plasma and serum viscosity due to the presence of many complications. The results of this study suggest that changes in plasma and serum viscosity may be associated with abnormalities of vascular and neurological function present in diabetic Africans.

Key words

Diabetics - Plasma (Relative) Viscosity - Serum (Relative) Viscosity - Complications - Hypertension - Africans