Asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis: Oxidative stress,clinical and inflammation parameters and blood viscosity according to the hemoglobin level

Abstract

Background and objective

In this different revision of our cohort of asymptomatic subjects with carotid atherosclerosis, particularly, we examined the behaviour of oxidative stress, some inflammation parameters, and blood viscosity in relation to the hemoglobin concentration.

Patients and methods

Our study population includes 100 subjects (43 men and 57 women) with asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis (SCA). Specifically, we evaluated the following variables: NOx (metabolites of NO, nitrate and nitrite), lipid peroxidation, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, whole-blood viscosity and plasma viscosity, mean erythrocyte aggregation, hematocrit, fibrinogen, and Yield shear stress (YSS).

Results

From the obtained data, we observed an increase in diastolic pressure and uricemia in the subgroup above the median values oh hemoglobin level. In the same subgroup, we observed a reduction in NOx, not associated with an increase in lipid peroxidation, an increase in blood viscosity, at high and low shear rate, as well as an increase in plasma viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation and YSS.

Conclusions

In subjects with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis the subdivision according to the hemoglobin level underlines the role of this parameter in the pathogenesis and progression of the atherosclerosis.