Prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and other haematological parameters among non-diabetic hypertensive patients.

OBJECTIVES To screen non-diabetic hypertensive Nigerian patients with a view to determining their haematological and coagulation profiles. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Thirty (30) consecutive non-diabetic hypertensive patients, aged 20-60 years and 30 age and sex-matched, apparently healthy subjects, were investigated for some haematological and coagulation parameters, blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height and body mass index. RESULTS There were statistically significant differences (p < 0.05), in some haematological parameters, blood pressure, body mass index and height in the total number of patients studied when compared with the total control group. The separate genders each showed statistically significant differences in both haematological parameters and blood pressure (P < 0.05) when compared with their corresponding control groups. In addition, haematological values, body mass index and height showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) when the male and female patients were compared. Overall, 25 (83.33%) of the patient's blood films were normochromic and normocytic. CONCLUSION It appears that hypertension has adverse effects on haematological parameters. We therefore recommended that coagulations studies should be included in the investigation work-up of hypertensive patients.