Haemorheological profile in cases of hypertension

Hypertension data has been classified into three groups depending on duration of hypertension and response to treatment. Haemorheological parameters studied include, plasma viscosity, whole blood viscosity, red cell aggregation, red cell deformability and haematocrit. In controlled hypertensives all the haemorheological parameters were similar to normal group. In uncontrolled hypertensives (under treatment but not fully controlled); plasma viscosity, whole blood viscosity at high shear rate, red cell aggregation and red cell deformability were significantly different from the normals. In freshly detected hypertensives the haemorheological abnormalities were similar to uncontrolled hypertensives except for red cell deformability which is not significantly altered. Haematocrit is unaffected in all the groups.