Weight loss does not affect the hemorheological and fibrinolytic changes in obesity

Abstract

Blood rheology measurements (whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, hematocrit and fibrinogen) and fibrinolytic and metabolic tests (plasma fibrinolytic activity, C-peptide, total cholesterol, triglycerides) were performed in 40 obese subjects before and after one year of hypocaloric diet. Our da ta show a slight decrease after weight loss of whole blood viscosity at 0.1 sec−1 but not at 1.3 and 94.5 sec−1. Hypocaloric diet did not affect plasma viscosity, plasma fibrinogen or plasma fibrinolytic activity despite a significant lowering of body mass index and C-peptide. We conclude that in obesity there are metabolic, coagulation, fibrinolytic, and rheological changes that persist after weight loss.