[ Methodological evaluation and clinical significance of erythrocyte aggregation]

Red cell aggregation, which occurs in vivo when blood flow slows down, has been studied in 22 healthy subjects and 31 type I diabetics by means of Myrenne MA1 automatic aggregometer. First of all, the most reliable and precise technique has been studied: the best results have been obtained employing 25 microliters of K2-EDTA-anticoagulated blood stored between 0 and 20 degrees C for a maximum of 4 h. The present study has shown statistically significant differences (p = 0.01) between the two groups studied (controls: mean = 11.895 MEA +/- 0.863; diabetics: mean = 15.552 MEA +/- 0.985). Moreover, correlations between erythrocyte aggregability and hematochemical and rheological parameters like fibrinogen, ESR, serum proteins, plasma and blood viscosity, have been evaluated.