[Erythrocyte filtrability in liver cirrhosis]

In view of the frequent erythrocyte abnormalities found in liver cirrhosis, erythrocyte deformability was studied in 62 patients. Deformability was determined by the initial filtration flow technique using a Hemorheometer. Results are given as a rigidity index (IR), which is characteristic of the average individual RBC. Deformability was significantly reduced in patients with cirrhosis. No correlation was found with the often increased MCV. A significant positive correlation was found between IR and the cell membrane free cholesterol/phospholipid ration, as the increase in cell rigidity is mainly due to a decrease in the cell membrane sphingomyelin content. The role of reduced RBC deformability in liver cirrhosis anemia still awaits elucidation.