[Plasma viscosity and erythrocyte filterability in borderline hypertension].

Hemorheological constants (plasma viscosimetry and erythrocyte filtrability index) were studied in 153 male subjects aged 19 to 23. Borderline hypertension defined by clinical criteria was found in 61 of these patients. Whilst there was no notable modification in plasma viscosity, by contrast there was a significant link between erythrometry and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Erythrocyte deformability was all the more marked as blood pressure rose. These results would contrast with findings in the literature in cases of definite hypertension. The borderline nature of hypertension and the youth of the population was such that it could be considered that barometric factors had not yet influenced erythrocyte filtrability. The following hypothesis is therefore attractive: initially the red cell adapts itself to any possible increase in peripheral resistance. As the years go by its deformability is lessened by adverse changes affecting its membrane cytoskeleton.