Quantitative study of morphology of aggregation of red cells in patients blood and in the reconstituted suspensions

Abstract

The Slit-Capillary PhotoViscometer allows a study of kinetics and morphology of aggregation of red cells. Micro and macro photography are carried out either during flow, or more frequently during stasis at 15 sec and 30 sec intervals. Colour slides are analyzed by stereological methods. Hereby three morphological indices are introduced based on the standard stereological parameters of Zeiss Videomat 2. Results for a specific stasis time can be compared using either Students t-test or by comparison of slopes and elevations of linear regressions linking various parameters and stasis time. Blood samples examined included a selection obtained from different patients, as also a series of reconstituted suspensions at standard haematocrit of 30% but differing concentrations of albumin, fibrinogen, paraproteins, etc. Statistically significant differences have been observed using these parameters, both in kinetics and in morphology of blood samples.