Red cell deformability in angina pectoris

Abstract

Red cell deformability was measured in 13 patients with stable angina controlled by beta-adrenoceptor antagonists and 13 controls. Filtration of leucocyte-poor blood was carried out by a modification of the Reid-Dormandy method at 37°C. No difference was found between the flow rates for blood anticoagulated with heparin, defibrinated blood or washed cells resuspended in serum when the two groups were compared. There is no evidence for impaired red cell deformability in these patients with stable angina.