NMR investigation of hydroxyethyl starch-induced aggregation of human erythrocytes

Aggregation of human erythrocytes at physiological hematocrit by hydroxyethyl starch (HES) was investigated with a 1H nuclear magnetic resonance method which measures the erythrocyte mean water exchange time, tau a. A relationship that takes into account the effect of the aggregate as the water-exchanging unit was used to transform tau a values into the number of cells per aggregate, n. The procedure permits the determination of the time course of aggregation as well as its initial and equilibrium status. The values of n at equilibrium range from about 2 to 4 cells over the concentration of 1 to 5% HES in isotonic saline. The aggregation of erythrocytes in the presence of HES was found to follow first-order kinetics. The feasibility of this technique for application in the study of diseased states is indicated.