Erythrocytes filterability reduction and membrane lipids in liver cirrhosis

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Garnier, M.^a | Hanss, M.^a | Paraf, A.^b

Affiliations: [a] Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Biophysique, Faculté de Médecine 74, rue Marcel Cachin, 93000 Bobigny, France | [b] Service de Médecine Interne et Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Hôpital Avicenne, 93000 Bobigny, France

Note: [] Accepted by: Editor J.F. Stoltz

Abstract: The erythrocyte filterability of patients suffering from liver cirrhosis has been measured by a new technique. A significant decrease of the filterability has been demonstrated. The lipid composition of the ghosts has also been determined for the same patients. As compared to controls, the membrane cholesterol is increased, the sphingomyelin and the phosphoethanolamine are decreased. The cholesterol/phospholipid ratio is therefore significantly increased in the cirrhotic patients. A good correlation between the lower filterability and the higher cholesterol/phospholipid ratio is found, indicating that the abnormal rheological properties of the liver cirrhosis patient erythrocytes may have its origin in the membrane lipid composition.

Keywords: Erythrocyte deformability, liver cirrhosis, Erythrocyte membrane lipids

DOI: 10.3233/CH-1983-3106

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 45-52, 1983