[Erythrocyte deformability in patients with acute ischemic cerebrovascular stroke]

The authors investigated in a group of 40 patients the deformability of the red cells, using the disintegration method by means of brilliant cresyl blue. The control group was formed by blood donors from the blood transfusion station. The disintegration of the red cells was investigated in vitro in isotonic NaCl solution and in Krebs-Ringer solution with two concentrations of brilliant cresyl blue, i.e. 0.25 and 0.5 nmol/l1. It was revealed that the disintegration of red cells was significantly lower in Krebs-Ringer solution in blood donors and patients in both concentrations of brilliant cresyl blue that in isotonic NaCl. In patients where blood samples were collected within 24 hours after the attack, no significant difference was found in the disintegration of red cells as compared with blood donors. There was no significant difference in the disintegration of red cells in patients 24 hours after the attack and 10 to 20 days after the attack. The authors conclude that in the above conditions no substantial changes in the deformability of the red cells occur.