Relationship Between Plasma Viscosity and the Severity of Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract

Abstract-Several studies have indicated that plasma viscosity contributes to cardiovascular risk in men. So far, a significant relationship between plasma viscosity and the severity of coronary heart disease has not been found. Thus, the present study is the first to report on the relationship of plasma viscosity and the severity of coronary heart disease. In a collective of 1142 male myocardial infarction patients, plasma viscosity and additional laboratory parameters were determined. Atherosclerotic changes were quantified by coronary angiography. Patients were divided into groups without any, and with one to three stenosed vessels. We found a positive relationship between plasma viscosity and the severity of coronary heart disease, even after adjusting groups for age, fibrinogen, and use of diuretics. Mean plasma viscosity ranged from 1.141Ϯ0.035 mPa s in patients without stenosed vessels to 1.162Ϯ0.044 mPa s in patients who had three coronary vessels with stenoses Ͼ50%. Differences between the groups were significant (PϽ0.001 to 0.05), with two exceptions: differences between patients without any and with one stenosed vessel, as well as between patients with one and two stenosed vessels, did not reach the significance level. On the whole, we can give further support to the hypothesis that cardiovascular risk factors and coronary heart disease may be linked by plasma viscosity.(Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 1998;18:870-875.)Key Words: coronary heart disease Ⅲ myocardial infarction Ⅲ coronary risk factor Ⅲ blood rheology Ⅲ fibrinogen I n the prospective Caerphilly and Speedwell studies, as well as in the MONICA project, plasma viscosity was indicated as a predictive risk factor for CHD. 1,2 In other studies, high plasma viscosity was shown to lead to an increased risk of acute MI in patients with unstable angina pectoris. 3,4 Furthermore, a relationship of an early increase in plasma viscosity during acute MI and reinfarction or death was shown. 5 An elevation of plasma viscosity was found in patients with severe unstable angina pectoris compared with patients with stable angina pectoris and to healthy individuals. 6-8 Additionally, an elevated plasma viscosity in patients with stable angina pectoris, 9 even without coronary artery stenosis at angiography, 10 could be demonstrated. In the MONICA project, geographical differences in plasma viscosity between populations differing in the CHD event rates were found. 11 Evidently, plasma viscosity contributes to the cardiovascular risk and may be of special importance in areas of reduced blood flow, as commonly occurs in patients with advanced atherosclerosis. 12 Lowe et al 13 suggested that blood viscosity is related to the extension of CHD. The study that proposed this suggestion, however, consisted only of a small group of patients, and therefore the results require further investigation. Moreover, in this study, plasma viscosity was not significantly elevated in patients with extensive CHD compared with a control group and to patients with less severe CHD. Thu...

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“…31 In a study involving 1142 male myocardial infarction patients, a positive relationship was found between plasma viscosity and the severity of coronary heart disease, even after adjusting groups for age, FBN and use of diuretics. 32 In our study, increased whole blood viscosity levels in Group 1 (the control group) were correlated to the elevated level of FBN in plasma. Although a lower FBN level was observed in Group 2 (the castration group), higher TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C levels might elevate the whole blood viscosity.…”

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“…The use of diuretics may be associated with plasma viscosity. 25) However the serum level of UA was not associated with diuretics in high ABI group. It requires further investigation.…”

The Relationship Between Plasma Whole Blood Viscosity and Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

“…High plasma eWBV levels were displayed to cause an elevated risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with unstable angina pectoris. 31 Furthermore, an association of an early elevation in plasma viscosity during AMI and reinfarction or death was observed. Compared to patients with stable angina pectoris and healthy individuals, an increase in plasma viscosity was displayed in patients with severe unstable angina pectoris.…”

“…In addition, in a previous study, the authors showed increased plasma eWBV levels in patients with stable angina pectoris even without coronary artery diseases. 31 The changes in eWBV levels have been showed in patients with cerebrovascular diseases. Plasma eWBV levels are elevated in patients with internal carotid atherosclerosis, independent of the presence of risk factors for CVD.…”