Plasma viscosity in patients with coronary ectasy

Coronary artery ectasy is a congenital or acquired anomaly which is characterized by the localised or diffus enlargement of the whole or a part of epicardial coronary artery, 1.5 times greater than adjacent normal coronary artery. Blood viscosity describes the main resistance of the blood against the flow and this resistance is originates from frictional forces between plasma proteins and blood cells. Blood viscosity can be defined with haematocrit, eritrosit aggregation and deformability and plasma viscosity.In this study we aimed to observe plasma viscosity of the patients with coronary artery ectasy, which is a important risk factor in coronary artery disease. Blood or plasma viscosity are the parameters that show the resistance and the fluidity of the blood. In our study, blood viscosity has not been calculated, instead of it, viscosityof the plasma, which is comprised by the amorphous elements of the blood, has been calculated. Because of plasma viscosity is a parameter about fluidity and resistance, we aimed to compare coronary artery ectasy patients with coronary artery disease patients.24 coronary artery ectasy patients and 24 coronary artery disease patients, who were diagnosed during routin coronary angiography, have included the study. Age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors such as existence of DM, hypertension, smoking history and previous medication have been investigated. Plasma viscosity of all patients have been measured.We compared viscosity rates of two groups. Plasma viscosity of coronary artery disease patients group was measured as 1.19 ±0.7, coronary artery ectasy patients group was measured as 1.18 ±0.8. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups (P>0,05). However plasma viscosity is a good known cardiovascular risk factor, one can say it does not play causal role in coronary artery ectasy. Beside this, one of the indirect results is documented slow coronary flow is not effective on plasma viscosity.Key Words: Coronary artery ectasy, plasma viscosity