THE EFFECT OF SODIUM FLUORESCEIN ANGIOGRAPHY ON ERYTHROCYTE PROPERTIES

Sodium fluorescein angiography is a widely used routine ophthalmologic al diagnostic procedure which enables the study of chorioretinal micro circulation and consists of the injection of sodium fluorescein into t he systemic bloodstream.The aim of the present study was to evaluate w hether or not fluorescein interferes with erythrocyte properties durin g the angiographic procedure. In a group of 37 patients, 26 with non-i nsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DM) with and without retinopathy, and 11 without diabetes mellitus (non-DM) although affected by other o phthalmological diseases, all undergoing routine angiography, blood sa mples were drawn before (T-0) and 30 min (T-30) after fluorescein inje ction. The erythrocyte aggregation index (EAI), membrane lipid fluidit y and erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity were determined in bot h groups. After fluorescein injection there was no statistical change in EAI and erythrocyte membrane fluidity in either group. Erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity, a marker of membrane protein integrity, decreased significantly (p < 0.01) in the DM group. Membrane lipid fl uidity did not change with fluorescein injection, however, (i) in the DM group erythrocyte membranes became more rigid than in the non-DM (D PH: p < 0.01); (ii) EAI and membrane lipid fluidity became significant ly correlated (r = 0.6263, p < 0.05) in non-DM patients at T-30. In co nclusion, fluorescein administration for angiographic procedures seems to interact with erythrocyte membrane, namely, in diabetic patients, which may interfere with the blood flow in the microcirculation.