LIVER ALCOHOLIC CIRRHOSIS AND SPUR-CELL (ACANTHOCYTIC) ANEMIA - A STUDY OF ERYTHROCYTE GHOST COMPOSITION AND FLUIDITY

Background: The occurrence of spur-cell anaemia in the course of cirrh osis is rare. Alterations of the lipid composition and fluidity of ery throcyte (RBC) ghosts may be present and participate in the phenomenon . Methods: A 59-year-old male patient with alcoholic cirrhosis develop ed severe spur-cell haemolytic anaemia before death. We compared his R BC ghosts with those of 10 cirrhotic patients and used a group of 9 he althy subjects as controls. Results: The cholesterol to protein ratio was higher in cirrhotic patients; besides, they had less unsaturated f atty acid. The ratio of phospholipid phosphorus to protein did nor cha nge; yet, the distribution of phosphorus among phospholipid classes wa s altered. No difference in 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene fluorescence anisotropy (membrane fluidity) was observed between the ghosts of cir rhotic patients and those of healthy people. However, the ghosts of th e patient with spur-cell anaemia were more rigid than those of either group. Conclusions: The values of most variables of cirrhotic patients ' ghosts lay between those of healthy subjects and those of the one wh o developed spur-cell anaemia. It is concluded that some homeostatic m echanisms must control fluidity during cirrhosis; in some cases altera tions are particularly great, and fluidity cannot be maintained.