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Nonspecific rheological abnormalities in sickle cell disease
Blood Cells
|January 1, 1982
Summary
Sickle cell disease significantly alters blood rheology, increasing red blood cell aggregation and decreasing fluidity. These changes, even after deoxygenation, contribute to circulatory disturbances in patients.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Biophysics
- Hemodynamics
Background:
- Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by abnormal hemoglobin (HbSS) leading to red blood cell (RBC) rigidity and vaso-occlusion.
- Understanding the rheological properties of blood in SCD is crucial for explaining circulatory disturbances.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the rheological behavior and microrheological properties of blood in sickle cell patients.
- To identify specific and nonspecific hemorheological factors affecting blood fluidity in SCD.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples from healthy subjects and SCD patients were analyzed.
- Rheological properties were measured using a rheoscope, coaxial cylinder, and cone-plate viscometer.
- Red blood cell aggregation kinetics and viscosity were systematically studied.
Main Results:
- Blood from SCD patients exhibits increased RBC aggregation tendency, persisting even after fibrinogen removal.
- Enhanced RBC aggregation and decreased apparent blood fluidity were observed, particularly at low shear rates.
- Nonspecific hemorheological abnormalities were identified, complicating the effects of HbSS cells.
Conclusions:
- Sickle cell disease involves significant nonspecific alterations in blood rheology, impacting overall blood fluidity.
- These rheological changes contribute to the complex pathophysiology of circulatory disturbances in SCD.
- A comprehensive hypothesis integrating hemodynamic and hemorheological factors is proposed for SCD.