Haemorheological disturbances in hypertension: the influence of diabetes and smoking

Abstract

Patients suffering from diabetes or hypertension commonly exhibit increased blood viscosity compared with healthy controls. This is primarily the result of elevated plasma fibrinogen concentration. Cigarette smokers also exhibit raised blood viscosity but in their case the main cause is a raised haematocrit. In this paper the effects of concurrent hypertension, diabetes and cigarette smoking on blood viscosity is reviewed. Evidence is presented that the haemorheological disturbances associated with each of these modalities are additive when present together in a subject.