[Erythrocyte filtration in acute myocardial infarction]

In 12 patients with acute myocardial infarction we have studied the behavior of the red blood cell filterability using polycarbonate membranes of 13 mm diameter with pores of 5 mu diameter according to the Reid's method. The samples were drawn soon afterwards the admission and successively every 48 h for a period of about 12 days. In the meantime, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), fibrinogen, leukocyte, platelet and alpha 2-macroglobulin changes have been determined. The average initial filterability values in patients with infarction were 0.84 +/- 0.20, while in control subjects were 0.58 +/- 0.15. During the observation period, a statistically significant increase of filterability after 48 h (1.06 +/- 0.24) and after 96 h (0.88 +/- 0.21) was observed. Using the statistical analysis we have noticed a strong correlation among filterability and leukocytes and ESR. The effect of leukocytes is due to the reduction of membrane pores through which red blood cells filter. The correlation with the ESR shows the presence of a plasma factor different from fibrinogen and capable of transforming the red blood cell aggregation by reducing their filterability.