Comparison of plasma viscosity and fibrinogen concentration in hypertensive and normotensive diabetics.

BACKGROUND: Body weight, body mass index, fibrinogen concentration and relative plasma viscosity can contribute to the development of hypertension in diabetics. This study compares body weight, body mass index, fibrinogen concentration and relative plasma viscosity between hypertensive diabetics, normotensive diabetics and healthy controls. METHODS: The present study was carried out on normotensive and hypertensive diabetics taken from medical OPD of Saidu group of teaching hospitals, Swat. A group of healthy male subjects between 30-60 years of age from the staff members of Saidu Medical College, Swat was also included. Each group comprised of 35 subjects. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, body weight, height, body mass index, fibrinogen concentration and relative plasma viscosity were measured and compared. RESULTS: Body weight, body mass index, fibrinogen concentration and relative plasma viscosity were all significantly more in hypertensive diabetics than normotensive diabetics and healthy control subjects. CONCLUSION: The onset of the complications is different in the two groups of diabetics (hypertensive and normotensive), earlier in hypertensive diabetics and delayed in normotensive diabetics.

Thrombocytopenia as an indicator of malaria in adult population.

Objectives. To evaluate the predictive value of thrombocytopenia in malaria. Patients and Methods. It was a prospective observational study on all febrile patients with thrombocytopenia presenting to the Medical Unit of Hayat Abad Medical Complex during November 2008 to November 2010. Results. Of the total of 228 patients with fever and thrombocytopenia, 121 patients (53%) proved to be suffering from malaria. Of them 82 patients (68%) had falciparum malaria while 39 patients (32%) had vivax infection. Of these 121 patients, platelet counts ranged between 25,000 and 150,000/dL with a mean value of 101,000/dL (SD ± 47, 500) and a median of 75,000/dL. Of the 107 patients who were not suffering from malaria, the counts ranged between 10,000 and 150,000/dL with a mean value of 58,000/dL (SD ± 54, 000) and median of 50,000/dL. Conclusions. The presence of thrombocytopenia may be a predictor of malaria in adult population.