Sex variations in the haemorheological parameters of some hypertensive nigerians as compared to normotensives.

Sex variations in some haemorheological parameters: Haematocrit (Hct), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Hemoglobin concentration (Hbc), Fibrinogen concentration (FC), Relative Plasma Viscosity (RPV) and Whole Blood Relative Viscosity (WBRV) were determined in 30 male and 20 female hypertensive subjects without complications, aged between 30 and 70 years. 30 male and 20 female normotensive subjects aged between 29 and 71 years, matched for age, weight and height with the hypertensive group served as control. In both groups all the parameters were determined using methods previously described by various workers. Results obtained in normotensives showed a significantly lower systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, haematocrit and whole blood relative viscosity and a significantly higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate in female subjects compared to male subjects, no significant correlation was found between any of the haemorheological parameters and the blood pressure indices in both sexes. In the hypertensives, only whole blood relative viscosity was found to be significantly higher in females compared to males. In male hypertensives significant positive correlations were found between erythrocyte sedimentation rate and all the blood pressure parameters and between relative plasma viscosity and systolic and mean arterial pressures; negative correlations were found between haematocrit and systolic and mean arterial pressures. In female hypertensives there were positive correlations between relative plasma viscosity and all the blood pressure parameters and between whole blood relative viscosity and systolic blood pressure. The present study confirms that significant sex variations occur in the various haemorheological parameters in both normotensive and hypertensive Nigerian subjects.