Microcirculation and hemorheology of children with type I diabetes.

A group of 53 children, suffering from diabetes mellitus type I and a group of 12 healthy children were compared. In both groups the following data were determined: Haemoglobin A1C, retinal blood flow (video fluorescence angiography), erythrocyte velocity in finger nailfold capillaries (video capillaroscopy), capillary tortuosity, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte rigidity, and haematocrit. The degree of capillary tortuosity was significantly elevated and erythrocyte velocity was significantly diminished in the group of diabetic children in comparison to the healthy children. Regarding rheological data there was a significant decrease in erythrocyte deformability for the diabetic children. Diabetic children with good stabilization presented better rheological parameters than the poorly stabilized ones. Although these findings provided sufficient information, it will be necessary to cover a long follow up period to judge the prognosis of good and poorly stabilized diabetic children.