Plasma fibrinogen levels, leucocyte and platelet counts in male Zimbabwean hypertensives.

Plasma fibrinogen levels, leucocytes and platelets are among the many factors known to influence haemostasis. Impaired haemostatic processes in hypertension are thought to contribute to the other cardiovascular diseases seen in this condition. This study compares the level of plasma fibrinogen, and leucocyte and platelet counts between 17 male hypertensives and 24 male normotensives. The results for the hypertensives were: leucocyte count mean 5.45 x 10(9)/L, platelet count mean 234.7 x 10(9)/L, and plasma fibrinogen 4.13 g/L. The results for the normotensives were: leucocyte count mean 4.83 x 10(9)/L, platelet count mean 222.9 x 10(9)/L, and plasma fibrinogen 3.27 g/L. The hypertensives had higher plasma fibrinogen levels, and leucocyte and platelet counts compared to the normotensives, but this only reached statistical significance for the plasma fibrinogen levels (p < 0.025).