[Changes in erythrocyte rheologic properties after mild burn injury]

The changes in erythrocyte deformability and osmotic fragility were studied with an animal model of mild burn injury. The results showed that after the burn injury there was a gradual decrease with time at first and then a recovery in erythrocyte deformability. Maximum deformation index [(DI)max], integration deformation index (IDI) and osmotic fragility of RBCs drawn just after burn were almost identical to those before burn injury. (DI)max and IDI significantly decreased at 1, 2 h but not at 4, 7 h when compared with those before burn injury, however, the RBCs were less deformable at 4, 7 h. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility significantly increased only at 4 h after burn injury when compared at the time points of 0, 1, 2, 4, 7 h after burn with that before burn injury. The results indicated that the lesion in (DI)max and IDI, and the increase in osmotic fragility might be only related to the body fluid factors in this animal model. The decrease in erythrocyte deformability and the increase in erythrocyte osmotic fragility did not synchronize, suggesting that the changes might come about not by the same mechanism.