Hemorheological and hemodynamical parameters in patients with ischemic heart disease at rest and at peak exercise

Abstract

In the regulation of coronary circulation both hemodynamical and hemorheological factors play an important role. Recent studies emphasize the role of hemorheological parameters as primary risk factors in cardiovascular diseases. The data of 377 patients (pts) with ischemic heart disease (IHD) (mean age (ma): 55 yrs) and 59 healthy controls (HC) (ma: 35 yrs) at rest and 32 pts with IHO (ma: 51 yrs) and 20 HC (ma: 23 yrs) during exercise stress test were analysed. Hemodynamical parameters (cardiac output and cardiac index *CI*) by impedance-cardiographic and radio-cardiographic methods and hemorheological parameters (whole blood *WBV* and plasma viscosity and fibrinogen level) were determined, and a new index – the circulatory index (* CRI = CI/WBV *) – was introduced. The rheological parameters in IHD were in the pathological range and were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than in HC. The CRI both at rest and during exercise was significantly lower in IHD pts than in the controls (p < 0.01). Our data show that hemorheological factors are altered in IHD and CRI is significantly lower than in HC. These findings underline the pathophysiological role of these factors in cardiovascular diseases.