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Increased dense erythrocytes in flame-burned patients
Arturo P Saavedra1, James A Warth, John F Burke
1Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. asoavedra@partners.org
Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation
|May 19, 2012
Summary
Flame burns increase dense red blood cells, potentially due to oxidant injury. This study investigated dense erythrocyte generation and reduced glutathione levels in burn patients.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Burn Medicine
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Dense erythrocytes are associated with altered flow characteristics.
- Flame burns can induce physiological stress and cellular changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and characteristics of dense erythrocytes in flame-burned patients.
- To explore the in vitro generation of dense erythrocytes and their biochemical properties.
Main Methods:
- Separation of erythrocytes using Arabinogalactan (Stractan) ultracentrifuged gradients.
- In vitro incubation of human whole blood at elevated temperatures (48.6°C).
- Measurement of reduced glutathione (GSH) content in different erythrocyte fractions.
Main Results:
- Flame-burned patients exhibited an increased percentage of dense erythrocytes compared to controls.
- Warming blood in vitro increased the number of dense erythrocytes.
- Dense erythrocytes showed decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and were composed of spherocytes and spheroechynocytes.
Conclusions:
- Dense erythrocytes are generated in vivo in flame burn patients.
- Reduced GSH levels in dense erythrocytes suggest oxidant injury as a contributing factor.
- The formation of dense erythrocytes, including spherocytes and spheroechynocytes, may impact blood flow characteristics post-burn.
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