Correlation between hemorheologic parameters and carotid atherosclerosis in stroke.

An evaluation of the hemorheologic parameters and an ultrasonographic study of the extracranial carotid tract were performed on 48 patients, age range: sixty to seventy-five years, affected by acute stroke, 23 of whom had hypertension, while 27 were smokers. None of them was suffering from hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, or symptomatic coronary heart or peripheral artery disease. The echotomographic analysis, using B-mode real-time echotomography revealed atherosclerotic lesions in 26 patients. The hemorheologic pattern (hematocrit, fibrinogen, whole blood filterability, whole blood and plasma viscosity) was determined in all the patients three months after the clinical event. Statistical analysis of the results indicates a possible link between atherosclerotic lesions of the extracranial carotid tract and age, fibrinogen levels, and whole blood filterability.