Abstract

Objective To measure with ultrasound the increased erythrocyte aggregation (EA) kinetics and adhesion energy between red blood cells in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and a poor metabolic control.

Research design and methods Blood samples were analyzed in a Couette rheometer at 32 MHz following shear rate reductions from 500 s⁻¹ to residual shears of 0 (stasis), 1, 2, 10, 50, 100 and 200 s⁻¹. The increase in EA was determined with the integrated backscatter coefficient (IBSC) as a function of time and shear rate.

Results The time required to form aggregates was shorter in diabetic patients at shear rates below 200 s⁻¹ (p < 0.01). Erythrocytes formed larger aggregates in patients than in controls (p < 0.05 at 2 to 100 s⁻¹).

Conclusions Ultrasound can potentially demonstrate non-invasively, in vivo and in situ the impact of local abnormal EA on arteriovenous flow disorders in diabetes mellitus.