Haemorheology in hypertension

Abstract

Haemorheologic investigations were performed on 25 essential and 8 secondary hypertensive patients as well as in 8 normotensive subjects with positive family history for essential hypertension. 20 normal subjects also entered this study as control group. Whole blood viscosity was increased in all hypertensive patients both at low and high shear rates. The increase of erythrocyte aggregation was more significant in essential than in secondary hypertensives in respect to normal subjects. On the contrary, blood filterability was reduced in all hypertensive patients. After challenge with furosemide, employed as a blocker of red cell membrane Na/K cotransport system, filterability index appeared to be reduced in secondary hypertensives and not significantly decreased in essential hypertensive patients. Normotensive subjects with positive family history for essential hypertension showed a decreased blood filterability, poorly influenced by challenge with furosemide. These findings support the hypothesis that Na/K cotransport system is genetically impaired in essential hypertensive patients and in normotensives with positive family history for essential hypertension.