European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

HAEMORHEOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF APPARENTLY HEALTHY STUDENTS OF RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, PORT HARCOURT.

*Stella Urekweru Ken-Ezihuo, Zacchaeus Awortu Jeremiah and Ebirien-Agana Samuel Bartimaeus

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed at providing baseline data on some haemorheological parameters in apparently healthy students of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. A total of 300 male and female students between the age of 18-45 years undergoing compulsory medical examination at the University’s health centre participated in the study. Fasting blood samples were collected from the subjects and packed cell volume, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, platelets count, whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and fibrinogen levels were determined using standard methods. Results showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in the means of the parameters between the age classes of the students. The mean of the PCV, Hb, WBV and PV were higher in the males than females while the means of the ESR, platelet count and fibrinogen were higher in the females than in the males. Significant difference (p<0.05) in mean of PCV, Hb, platelet count, WBV, PV and fibrinogen and none significant difference (p>0.05) in the mean of ESR between the males and the females was observed. Significant positive correlations were also observed between packed cell volume and haemoglobin (r=0.87), while weak positive correlations were found between PCV and WBV (r=0.40), PCV and PV (r=0.38), Hb and WBV (r=0.31), Hb and PV (r=0.33), ESR and fibrinogen (r=0.35), WBV and fibrinogen (r=0.35) and PV and fibrinogen (r=0.38). The present study further showed that sex variations in haemorheological parameters exist in apparently healthy students studied in Port Harcourt as observed in studies in other parts of the world.

Keywords: Haemorrheology, packed cell volume, plasma viscosity, whole blood viscosity, fibrinogen.