Affiliations: [a] Laboratoire de Biophysique Appliquée, UER Biomédicale, 45 rue des Saints Pères, 75270-Paris Cedex 06, France | [b] Laboratoire de Biophysique, UER Médicale, 74 rue Marcel Cachin, 93012-Bobigny Cedex, France | [c] Unite de Biorhéologie, CHU Pitié Salpétrière, 91 Bd de l’hopital, 75634-Paris Cedex 14, France
Note: [] Accepted by: Editor J.C. Healy
Abstract: The erythrocyte aggregation phenomenon is an important factor in capillary circulation. This phenomenon can be evaluated by a number of methods (microscopic observations, viscometry, light measurements) which cannot be applied simply to in vivo measurements. In contrast, ultrasound which propagates through soft tissues allows measurement of the mechanical properties of red blood cell (RBC) suspensions which depend on the aggregation phenomenon. We devised an apparatus in order to measure in vitro the ultrasonic backscattering intensity of RBC suspensions. First, with latex particules of different sizes, the ultrasonic backscattering coefficient has been measured in order to evaluate the apparatus response. Then, the ultrasonic backscattering coefficient of different aggregated erythrocyte suspensions has been measured and correlated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Finally, the size of RBC aggregates of different suspensions has been evaluated.
Keywords: Aggregation, Red Blood Cell, Ultrasound, Backscattering
DOI: 10.3233/BIR-1987-24503
Journal: Biorheology, vol. 24, no. 5, pp. 451-461, 1987
