Discrimination of hemoglobin disorders by studying the erythrocyte deformability

Abstract

By using a new, accurate and sensitive filtration method, we report that at atmospheric pO₂ and at 25°C the red blood cell rigidity is highly increased in sickle cell syndromes (SS and AS) and in β thalassemia (minor and intermedia). A rigidity index IR, related to red cell deformabillty was 10 times higher for SS RBCs than that for control AA cells. The heterozygotes states of β thalassemia and of sickle cell disease exhibited an increase in the rigidity index of 90% and 330% of the normal value, respectively.