Abstract
Red blood cells (RBC) deformability can be measured by a variety of methods of which bulk filtration through polycarbonate membranes is the most widely used. The aim of this paper is here to compare this last and viscometry on stored blood samples and on blood samples artificially modified by an echinocytic agent.
(i) viscometric experiments are performed with a servo-controlled Couette apparatus with coaxial cylinders. Viscometric data are analysed by means of Quemada’s rheological model from which is obtained an index of deformability Dv.
(ii) filtration measurements are made using an initial flow-rate gravity filtration instrument (Hanss’ hemorheometer). The results are given in term of Hanss’ index Df.
Indices of deformability Dv and Df are compared and interpreted according to morphological RBC changes controlled under microscope. We found:
- No correlation between Df and Dv for stored blood.
- An exponential correlation between Df and Dv when normal and artificially modified RBC are used.
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