Influence of the dynamic properties of the erythrocyte membrane on erythrocyte aggregation in diabetes mellitus and in vascular atherosclerotic disease

In diabetics of the two types (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM] a nd non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus [NIDDM]) and in patients with va scular atherosclerotic disease (VAD),vith and without NIDDM, we evaluated a t the same time the mean erythrocyte aggregation (MEA - using the aggregome ter MA1 of Myrenne), the erythrocyte membrane fluidity (marking intact red cells with the fluorescent label 10-[1-pyrene] decanoic acid) and the red c ell membrane proteins lateral mobility (marking intact red cells with pyren e-3-maleimide [3-PM]). In diabetics and in VAD patients with and without NI DDM each of these variables was almost always significantly different from those found in healthy controls. However, in normals and in each group of p atients the MEA was hardly ever related to the membrane dynamic properties. Considering these results the authors wish to underline the different path ophysiological behaviour that is the basis of the abnormality that conditio ns the trend of mean erythrocyte aggregation and membrane dynamic propertie s in such clinical conditions.