Red blood cell aggregation and primary hyperlipoproteinemia

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Primary hyperlipoproteinemia (PHLP) encompasses conditions like familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), familial combined hyperlipemia (FCHL), and primary hypertriglyceridemia (PHTG).
• Erythrocyte aggregation (EA) is a rheological parameter potentially affected by lipid disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate erythrocyte aggregation levels in patients with PHLP compared to a control group.
• To identify correlations between EA and various hematological and biochemical parameters in PHLP patients.

Main Methods:

• Erythrocyte aggregation was measured using a Myrenne aggregometer at stasis (EAMo) and low shear (EAM1).
• Blood samples from 102 PHLP patients (FH, FCHL, PHTG) and healthy controls were analyzed.
• Measurements included fibrinogen, lipids, apolipoproteins, glucose, HbA1c, and erythrocyte membrane lipids (cholesterol, phospholipids).

Main Results:

• All PHLP patient groups exhibited increased EAMo and EAM1 compared to controls.
• Elevated fibrinogen was observed in FH and FCHL patients.
• Increased erythrocyte membrane cholesterol was noted primarily in FH and FCHL.
• EA correlated with fibrinogen, apolipoproteins, and in FH, with membrane cholesterol/phospholipid ratio.
• A significant correlation between EA and HbA1c was found in FCHL patients.

Conclusions:

• Erythrocyte aggregation is elevated in patients with primary hyperlipoproteinemia.
• Fibrinogen, apolipoproteins, and erythrocyte membrane alterations likely contribute to increased EA in PHLP.
• These findings suggest potential mechanisms influencing blood flow and cardiovascular risk in lipid disorders.