Abstract
The aim of this study was to verify if abnormalities of sodium content can explain the decrease in the red blood cell deformability observed in diabetic patients.
Erythrocyte deformability based on filtration index, membrane chemical composition evaluated by free cholesterol, phospholipid fractions measured by thin layer chromatography, total protein, sodium, potassium and magnesium contents were investigated in 37 non insulin dependent diabetic (NIDD) patients and 26 control subjects.
The results showed that erythrocyte sodium content was higher in diabetic patients than in controls and it correlated significantly with filtration index and membrane lipid contents.
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