[A syllectrometric method to study erythrocyte aggregation]

The authors show a new method to study erythrocyte aggregation; the results of in vitro study, obtained by modification of several parameters (hematocrit, immunoglobulins, fibrinogen concentrations), are exposed. The authors did not find in vivo correlations between MAE and hemorheological parameters in different diseases; they found low MAE values only in myelomatous subjects. Adding erythrocytes from healthy donors to myelomatous plasma and vice versa, they found low MAE values only in samples containing erythrocytes and plasma from myeloma. These results suggest that many factors, not only erythrocyte aggregability, contribute to determine MAE (Mean Aggregation Entity).