Haemorrheological alterations in Nigerian pulmonary tuberculosis patients

Abstract number: 1135_179

Ajayi O., Famodu A., Onyemairo J., Iyere C., Onaghise V., Adogun C.

Objective:  

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is a major infectious disease with very high incidence in developing countries and this is expected to rise with the incidence of HIV infection. Despite the known consequences of PTB on blood flow, rheologic properties have not been viewed with any serious research attention. This study was designed therefore, to investigate the possible haemorheological effects of the infection.

Methods:  

Haemorheological parameters were studied in 40 (17 males and 23 females) and 10 (5 males and 5 females) newly diagnosed PTB patients but confirmed to be HIV negative. Their ages ranged between 25 and 45 years. Also, 50 apparently healthy controls with age and sex matched were compared. Haematocrit (HCT), plasma viscosity (PV), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and plasma fibrinogen concentration (PFC) were estimated with standard methodologies while student t-test was used to compare the data.

Results:  

Patients (treated and untreated) show statistically significant increase in PFC, PV and ESR (P<0.01 respectively) while there was a statistically significant decrease in the HCT (P<0.01). However, treated patients show an improved rheological values than the untreated ones (i.e. reduced ESR and PV with an increased PCV, P<0.01 respectively). There was no established male and female differences amongst the patients.

Conclusion:  

Hyperfibrinogenaemia with hyperviscosity are possible consequences of PTB infection and coupled with reduced PCV and increased ESR indicates chronic signals of altered haemorheology which may predispose the patients to increased cardiovascular risks. The inclusion of haemorheological parameters in the monitoring of patients on treatment is hereby emphasized.