Reduced erythrocyte deformability related to activated lipid peroxidation during the early postburn period

The role of lipid peroxidation in reduced red cell deformability has been examined after thermal injury of rats (full skin thickness over 15-20 per cent of total body surface). An increased concentration of erythrocyte malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and blood thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactive product levels during the first 3 days after thermal trauma was established. There was a remarkable decrease in red cell superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity after burns and an increase in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) on day 3 postburn. The deformability of erythrocytes was diminished significantly during the first 3 days after burns. There was a significant negative correlation between the deformability and the amount of MDA accumulated in erythrocytes (r = -0.92). Both the accumulation of MDA and the reduction of SOD activity in erythrocytes were suppressed by alpha-tocopherol treatment, which also prevented the decrease in erythrocyte deformability. These results suggest that the activation of the peroxidative process is a possible mechanism for the decreased deformability of erythrocytes during the early stage after thermal injury.