Hemorheological properties in patients with type-1 and type-2 diabetes mellitus

The hemorheologic disorders, which are potentially deleterious in a wide range of pathologies, were studied in patients with type-1 and type-2 diabetes mellitus. The significant determinants of blood viscosity, red blood cells (RBC) deformability and RBC reversible aggregation were assessed by ektacytometry and by laser backscattering technique, respectively. For both types of the disease, we observed acceleration of the first phase of RBC aggregation that contrasted with its deceleration at the second phase. The hydrodynamic stability of the aggregates, especially the smallest ones, exceeded the normal values in both cases. The influence of GP IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor, monafram on RBC aggregation and disaggregation was the same in the cases of patients and normal subjects. The maximal shear induced RBC stretching exceeded the normal one in patients of both groups. The data reveal not only pathological but also compensatory character of hemorheological alterations in patients with type-1 and type-2 diabetes mellitus.