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Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), is a common manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis. Advances on the development of such vascular disease have described with a number of novel risk factors. Hyperviscosity, due to alterations of blood cells and plasma components, may play a role on the pathogenesis of the disease. Aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between hemorheological variables and PAD. The hemorheological variables [whole blood viscosity (WBV), erythrocyte deformability index (DI), plasma viscosity (PLV)] were analyzed in 90 patients and in 180 healthy subjects. WBV and PLV were measured by a Rotational Viscosimeter and DI by a filtrometer. DI and PLV were significantly different in patients as compared to controls. To investigate the possible association between these parameters and the disease we divided the study population into tertiles. At the univariate analysis, we found a significant association between the highest tertiles of PLV, of DI and the disease. A model adjusted for traditional risk factors showed an association between highest tertiles of PLV and PAD. After adjustment for confounding parameters highest tertiles of PLV remained to be significantly associated with the disease. Our data indicate that an alteration of plasma viscosity may modulate the predisposition to PAD.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a frequent disease whose aetiology is still unknown in about 80% of patients. Aim of this study was to evaluate if haemorheological changes and some indexes of hypercoagulability and hypofibrinolysis are associated with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL).We studied 63 patients with ISSHL and 67 healthy control subjects, matched for age, sex and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Haemorheological studies were performed by assessing whole blood viscosity (WBV) at 0.512 s(-1) and 94.5 s(-1), plasma viscosity (PLV) and erythrocyte deformability index (DI). To assess whole blood coagulation Sonoclot analysis was performed. Sonoclot variables studied were Sonoclot activated clotting time (SonACT), clot rate and time to peak. Fibrinogen, PAI-1 antigen (ag) and factor VIII:C plasma levels were also measured.WBV, PLV, SonACT, clot rate, time to peak, PAI-1ag and factor VIII:C were significantly altered in patients in comparison with controls (p0.05). A multivariate analysis (adjusted for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, hematocrit, fibrinogen, haemostatic and haemorheological variables) indicated that WBV at 94.5 s(-1), DI, SonACT, clot rate, PAI-1ag plasma levels and factor VIII:C activity were independently associated with ISSHL (p0.05).The observed changes in viscosity, blood clotting and fibrinolysis may contribute, at least in part, to the pathophysiological mechanism of ISSHL.