Filterability of red cells in iron deficiency

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Slater, N.G.P. | Vyas, J. | Lovett, D. | Pearson, T.C. | Grimes, A.J.

Affiliations: Department of Haematology, St Thomas’s Hospital and Medical School, London SE1 7EH

Note: [] Accepted by: Editor J. Dormand

Abstract: A method of measuring red-cell filterability is described in which washed, human red cells, substantially freed of white cells and platelets and suspended in isotonic phosphate-buffered saline at 20–220°, are delivered at a constant rate and concentration to a membrane with 3 μm diameter pores. Filterability is determined as a pressure increase on the upstream side of the membrane arising from the passage of cells through the pores. Application of the technique to iron-deficient red cells demonstrated that at a fixed concentration of cells they are more filterable than normal. Published reports which show them to be less filterable probably arise from the use of a fixed haematocrit rather than a fixed red-cell concentration to express the results.

Keywords: Filterability, Red cells, Iron deficiency

DOI: 10.3233/CH-1982-2414

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 373-381, 1982