Decreased deform ability of erythrocytes and increased intracellular calcium in patients with chronic renal failure

Abstract

Erythrocyte deformability in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) was determined by nuclepore filtration of red cells. The mean value of the deformability parameter, P₀ , which inversely correlates with deformability, was elevated for a group of 32 patients with CRF. Patients receiving chronic hemodialysis had less deformable red cells than patients undergoing chronic peritoneal dialysis. The mean value of calcium content of erythrocytes, determined by atomic adsorption spectrometry, was significantly greater than normal in a group of 18 patients who were studied. Calcium content was generally greater in red ce11s of patients treated with hemodialysis than those with peritoneal dialysis. No correlation was found between either red ce11 deformability or calcium content with morphologic changes of erythrocytes, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration of red cells, or values of the patients’ serum urea nitrogen, calcium or creatinine. The anemia of CRF is characterized by decreased deformability of red cells associated with increased calcium content.