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Is Increased Plasma Viscosity A Risk Factor for High Blood Pressure?

Department of Internal Medicine IV, University of Ulm, Ulm, West Germany

Malte Sund

From the GSF-MEDIS Institute, Neuherberg, West Germany

Edzard Ernst

From the Hemorheology Research Laboratory, Clinic for Physical Medicine, University of Munich, Munich, West Germany

Arpad Matrai

From the Hemorheology Research Laboratory, Clinic for Physical Medicine, University of Munich, Munich, West Germany

Ulrich Keil

From the GSF-MEDIS Institute, Neuherberg, West Germany

Julian Rosenthal

From the Department of Internal Medicine IV, University of Ulm, Ulm, West Germany

Data from several epidemiologic studies have suggested that, among other variables, hematocrit and fibrinogen may constitute risk factors for high blood pressure. As part of a population survey for cardiovascular risk factors, plasma viscosity and hemoglobin were measured. Blood pressure was determined under standardized conditions according to the recommendations of the AHA. A two- stage age-sex-stratified cluster sample of 5,312 persons, aged twenty-five to sixty-four years, was selected from a mixed urban/rural target population of 282,279 (total population approximately 533,000). A net response of 79.3% was achieved.

Multiple logistic regression analyses including plasma viscosity, hemoglobin, body mass index, alcohol consumption, smoking behavior, and total serum cho lesterol as independent variables were run controlling for both age and sex. Plasma viscosity appeared as a significant main effect in all analyses and dem onstrated the strongest association with high blood pressure next to body mass index. Whether this association implies a causal relationship cannot be an swered from cross-sectional data. However, even if plasma hyperviscosity rep resents a secondary phenomenon in hypertension, it might be of prognostic relevance. There is evidence that increased plasma viscosity may contribute to myocardial hypertrophy. Therefore hypertensives with impaired blood fluidity might constitute a subgroup at particular risk for cardiovascular complications. When antihypertensive drugs are selected, their influence on blood viscosity should be taken into account.

Angiology, Vol. 40, No. 3, 153-163 (1989)
DOI: 10.1177/000331978904000301


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