Erythrocyte morphology as a determinant of abnormal erythrocyte deformability in liver disease

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Bareford, D. | Stone, P.C.W. | Caldwell, N.M. | Stuart, J.^{; *}

Affiliations: Department of Haematology, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TJ, UK

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to Professor J. Stuart.

Note: [] Accepted by: Editor J.A. Dormandy

Abstract: Erythrocyte deformability was studied by 5 μm pore filtration (initial-flow-rate and positive-pressure methods) and by viscometric and Ektacytometric techniques in 30 patients with liver disease compared with 30 matched controls. All of the rheological techniques demonstrated abnormal erythrocyte deformability in the patient group, with a left shift of the Ektacytometer Osmoscan curve correlating significantly with degree of liver failure. Abnormal erythrocyte morphology (codocytes, acanthocytes, and an increase in mean cell diameter), rather than an increase in mean cell volume, was a major determinant of abnormal erythrocyte deformability.

Keywords: Rheology, Erythrocyte Deformability, Liver Disease

DOI: 10.3233/CH-1985-5510

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 5, no. 5, pp. 473-481, 1985