Comparison between two methods,viscometry and filtration,for red blood cell deformability evaluation. Effect of pentoxifylline

Abstract

The modification of erythrocyte deformability, observed when one adds pentoxifylline in vitro, are studied using two methods. The filtration method (Hanss hemorheometer) allows, from filtration time measurements, to determine a filtration parameter. The viscometric method (Couette viscometer) allows, from shear-thinning measurements, to evaluate a viscometric parameter. These two parameters, which can characterize, to a certain extent, red blood cell deformability, are compared statistically. Furthermore, using those methods, the effect of pentoxifylline is evaluated on normal cells.