Effect of metabolic stress and oxpentifylline on erythrocyte deformability (filterability)

Abstract

An in vitro metabolic stress model has been developed to simulate the adverse rheological effect on erythrocyte deformability of regional ischaemia in patients with vascular disease. Exposure to the combination of acidosis (pH 6.9), hypoxia (pO₂ 2.0–2.7 kPa), and hyperosmolality (402 mmol/Kg) for 10 and 90 minutes caused a 50% and 99% decrease respectively in erythrocyte filtration through 5µm diameter pores (initial flow rate method). Erythrocytes from patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease were similarly affected to those from healthy individuals and the loss of filterability, which was reversible, was not prevented by 5 mmol/l oxpentifylline.