Filtration of sickle cells is sensitive to factors that enhance polymerization of haemoglobin S

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Sowter, M.C.^{a; b} | Green, M.A.^{a; b} | Keidan, A.J.^{a; b} | Johnson, C.S.^{a; b} | Stuart, J.^{a; b; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Haematology, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham 815 2TJ, UK | [b] Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA

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

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

Abstract: Rheological methods have considerable potential for the study of sickle cell disease. We have developed a 5 µm pore filtration technique to detect the loss of deformability of sickle cells that occurs secondary to polymerization of haemoglobin S. Loss of filterability was shown to be sensitive to enhancement of polymerization caused by rise in temperature, fall in pH, increase in haemoglobin concentration secondary to cell dehydration, and decrease in oxygen tension. Initial-flow-rate filtration of sickle cells through pores of 5 µm diameter can therefore be used to study the pathogenesis of vaso-occlusive events in sickle-cell patients, to screen potential anti-sickling drugs in vitro, and to monitor the efficacy of such drugs in clinical trials.

Keywords: Rheology, Erythrocyte deformability, Sickle cell anemia

DOI: 10.3233/CH-1988-8211

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 221-234, 1988