www.ejbps.com Stella et al. European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences 78 HAEMORHEOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF APPARENTLY HEALTHY STUDENTS OF RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, PORT HARCOURT. *Stella Urekweru Ken-Ezihuo 1 , Zacchaeus Awortu Jeremiah 2 and Ebirien-Agana Samuel Bartimaeus 3 1,3 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. 2 Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island Bayelsa State. Nigeria. Article Received on 10/11/2016 Article Revised on 30/11/2016 Article Accepted on 20/12/2016 INTRODUCTION Haemorheology is the study of the flow properties of blood and its elements. The flow properties of blood have been suggested to be one of the main determinants of proper tissue perfusion and alteration in these properties play significant role in disease processes. The property of the fluidity and internal friction of blood is referred to as whole blood viscosity. Promotion and development of cardiovascular disease by all major risk markers are attributable to the mechanism of increased viscosity. [1] Generally, changes in whole blood viscosity have been reported in several human cardiovascular diseases indicating that blood viscosity may be a major cardiovascular risk factor. Men have been shown to have higher blood viscosity than women, largely because of their higher haematocrit. Plasma viscosity is the intrinsic flow resistance of plasma. Increased plasma viscosity and whole-blood viscosity are observed in primary hyperlipoproteinaemias as well as in secondary hyperlipoproteinaemias such as diabetes mellitus and the nephrotic syndrome. [1] Plasma viscosity is primarily dependent on the concentration of plasma proteins, especially fibrinogen and it is not affected by anaemia. [2] According to [3] , elevated plasma fibrinogen levels may be regarded as an independent cardiovascular risk factor. Cardiovascular disease is associated with high fibrinogen and lipid fractions leading to an increase of both plasma and whole blood viscosity as well as raised aggregability of blood cells. [4] There is increased risk for CVD in response to arterial injury and vascular abnormality like atherosclerosis due to increased deposition of fibrin, cellular proliferation and fibrous scar formation. [5,6] These are followed by decreased fibrinolytic activity, increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity (PAI-1) and decreased thrombus dissolution, which culminate in a pro- thrombotic state. [6] Hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, both components of the metabolic syndrome (MS) enhances this state. However, the PAI-1 activity does decrease with insulin treatment. [7,8] Hemorheological SJIF Impact Factor 3.881 Research Article ejbps, 2017, Volume 4, Issue 1, 78-83. European Journal of Biomedical AND Pharmaceutical sciences http://www.ejbps.com ISSN 2349-8870 Volume: 4 Issue: 1 78-83 Year: 2017 *Corresponding Author: Stella Urekweru Ken-Ezihuo Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. 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.