[Effect of potassium leakage on reversible aggregation of human erythrocytes]

Changes in the aggregation of human erythrocytes caused by polydextrane were studied under conditions influencing the rate of potassium leakage from cells to medium. It was shown that aggregation decreases as the leakage of potassium ions increases and is completely abolished at leakage rates higher than 2.5-3.0 mmol/l of erythrocytes per hour. The involvement of nonequilibrial electrokinetic phenomena in the inhibition of erythrocyte aggregation by ionic fluxes across erythrocyte surface is discussed. It is proposed that potassium leakage affects the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in clinical investigations.