Enhanced aggregability of red blood cells of [beta]-thalassemia
major patients.
Chen, Shuqi, Amiram Eldor, Gregory Barshtein, Sihua Zhang, Ada
Goldfarb, Eliezer Rachmilewitz, and Saul Yedgar.
Department of Biochemistry, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical
School and Department of Hematology, Hadassah University Hospital,
Jerusalem, Israel 91120
APStracts 2:0553H, 1995.
[beta]-Thalassemia major (TM) - a congenital hemoglobinopathy - is
associated with hemodynamic disorders, and with structural red blood
cell (RBC) anomalies which may indicate impairment of RBC rheological
properties. To gain insight into the possible contribution of RBC to
the hemodynamic disorders, we studied RBC aggregability, which plays
a central role in blood flow, particularly in the microcirculation.
RBC aggregate size distribution and morphology of TM RBC was
determined, using a novel system for image analysis of blood cells in
a flow-chamber. It was found that the aggregability of RBC of TM
patients is markedly enhanced. These cells form large clusters, as
opposed to normal rouleaux, and higher shear stress is required to
disperse them. The aggregate size of TM RBC is reduced to the normal
range after the patients have received a blood transfusion. This
study suggests that the hemodynamic disorders observed in thalassemia
major may be linked to the enhanced RBC aggregability, and that
improvement of RBC rheological properties may be considered in the
treatment of thalassemia.
Received 19 July 1995; accepted in final form 22 November 1995.
APS Manuscript Number H678-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 12 December 95