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.
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