Abstract
Erythrocyte deformability was determined in 21 adult patients (13 males and 8 females) suffering from familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and in a well matched control group by means of the erythrocyte elongation index (EEI) in a Rheodyn SSD (Myrenne, Roetgen Germany) shear stress diffractometer at eight different shear stresses ranging from 0.30 to 60 Pa. The results show that at high shear stress forces of 6, 12, 30 and 60 Pa, FH patients had lower EEI values than the control group: 41.05 ± 2.97 % vs 43.46 ± 2.31 %; 48.21 ± 3.06 % vs 50.48 ± 1.71 %; 52.95 ± 2.60 % vs 55.51 ± 2.04 %; 54.73 ± 2.45 % vs 57.46 ± 2.71 %; all these differences were statistically significant (p<0.01). No statistical differences were observed between the two groups at low shear stresses. No correlation was found between EEI and hematimetric or lipidic parameters.
This finding is in agreement with our previous data on decreased red cell deformability in hypercholesterolemic patients determined by filtrometric techniques. The decreased elongation index of erythrocytes could cause a deterioration in blood flow conditions and thus favor ischemic events in these patients.
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