Comparison of physicochemical and hematological parameters for blood from multiple sclerosis patients and normal subjects

Abstract

Physicochemical and hematological studies were performed on the blood and blood components from 227 clinically definite multiple sclerosis patients and 64 matched control subjects. Measurements included plasma and serum viscosity, screen filtration pressure, red blood cell osmotic and mechanical fragilities, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hematocrit, total serum protein, platelet count, thrombo-Φ-time, platelet retention, platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen or ristocetin; plasma protein levels of fibrinogen, albumin, α-1, α-2, β- and γ-globulins, albumin/globulin ratio and standard chemistry screens for levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDH, SGOT, total bilirubin and uric acid. Highly significant differences were found between normal and MS patients: red blood cell osmotic and mechanical fragilities were greatly elevated for MS patients; platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen or ristocetin, decreased for MS patients; platelet retention markedly increased in MS patients; and the level of β-globulin decreased while the level of γ-globulins increased in MS.