Summary
Blood viscosity and erythrocyte filterability were assessed in forty-five diabetics
subdivided for type and vascular complications.
From the obtained data, it is evident that blood viscosity at high shear rates does
not distinguish diabetics from normals nor diabetics from one another, whereas at
low shear rates it is able to differentiate normals from diabetics and diabetics with
and without vascular complications.
As for the erythrocyte filterability, it is evident that the Vrbc, obtained by filtering
whole-blood, distinguishes diabetics from normals, whereas this does not happen with
the DI, obtained by filtering red blood suspended (5%) in prefiltered autologous plasma.
The causes of these results are discussed.
Key-Words:
Blood Viscosity
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Erythrocyte Filterability
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Diabetes Mellitus
