Blood rheology and red cell metabolism in the menstrual cycle in normal and heterozygous thalassemic women

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kaperonis, A.A. | Chien, S.

Affiliations: Division of Circulatory Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Physiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, West 168 Street, New York, N.Y. 10032, USA

Note: [] Accepted by: Editor P.F. Leblond

Abstract: Four normal women and two heterozygous β-thalassemic women were examined throughout one or more menstrual cycles for variations in several rheological parameters and red cell metabolism during the menstrual, follicular and luteal phases. Cyclic variations were found in the physical and chemical properties of the red cells (including mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, intracellular contents of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and adenosine triphosphate, and erythrocyte deformability). These physiological changes during the menstrual cycle are exaggerated in heterozygous B-thalassemic women.

Keywords: Blood Rheology, Heterozygous Thalassemia, Menstrual Cycle, Red Cell Aggregation, Red Cell Deformability, Red Cell Metabolism

DOI: 10.3233/CH-1988-8521

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 751-762, 1988