DETERMINATION OF RED-BLOOD-CELL AGGREGATION IN YOUNG AND ELDERLY SUBJECTS EVALUATED BY ULTRASOUND - INFLUENCE OF DIHYDROERGOCRYPTINE MESYLATE

Red blood cell (RBC) aggregation was determined in elderly subjects (m ean age over 80 years) by using two ultrasonic (interferometry and bac kscattering) methods and compared with RBC aggregation measured in you ng healthy volunteers (mean age below 30 years). The two time paramete rs (tm and DELTAt) given by the interferometry method and the backscat tering coefficient chi given by the backscattering method have been sh own to be connected to the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and to the R BC aggregate size respectively. The results show that elderly subjects display hemorheological parameters significantly altered compared to those of young healthy volunteers. Long term treatment of elderly pati ents (3 months) with a RBC anti-aggregant (dihydroergo cryptine) demon strates an improvement of hemorheological parameters (DELTAt: + 10 %; chi coefficient: - 29 %), in spite of a moderate of fibrinogenemia, an d corroborates the favourable effects of the compound previously found in animals.