Abstract

M. S. Edem, A. O. Emeribe and J. O. Akpotuzor*

This research was carried out to assess the effect of hypertension on haemorrheologic and fibrinolytic activities in fifty (50) diabetics resident in Calabar municipality and the values obtained were compared with those of fifty (50) age and sex-matched non diabetics in the same locality. Relative plasma viscosity plasma fibrinogen concentration, euglobulin lysis time and fasting blood sugar were determined using standard methods. The relative plasma viscosity, plasma fibrinogen concentration, euglobulin lysis time and the fasting blood sugar values were significantly higher in diabetics (P < 0.05) when compared with the controls. Correlation between RPV and duration of diabetes was positive and significant (r = 0.323, p < 0.05). Also, correlation between fasting blood sugar and plasma fibrinogen concentration was positive and significant (r = 0.635, p < 0.05).There was no significant increase in RPV, PFC and ELT of type I diabetes when compared with type II diabetes (P > 0.05). The RPV and ELT of diabetics with hypertension was increased, but showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) with that of those who had no hypertension. However, the PFC of diabetics with hypertension was significantly increased (P < 0.05) when compared with that of the control group. The diabetics who were on oral hypoglycaemic agents and insulin showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) in RPV, PFC and ELT when compared with those who were on combination therapy of oral hypoglycaemic agents (glanil, glucophage), but there was significant increase when RPV, PFC and ELT values were compared with the controls (P < 0.05). This work shows that defective rheology and poor fibrin clearing may be the contributory factor to vascular and thrombotic complications seen in diabetics.