Membrane-receptor defects in bronchial asthma

Aim. To give impedance characteristics of erythrocytes in bronchial asthma (BA) and to determine the relation between the impedance parameters and spe cific features of the membrane-receptor complex reflecting the condition of cell membrane lipid matrix. Materials and methods. 164 patients wit BA, 19 patients with preasthma, 21 normal blood relatives of BA patients and 36 healthy controls were examined . parameters of electrical impedance (capacity and temperature-dependent) w ere measured by modified method of S. Takashima et al. (1988). Peculiaritie s of low-temperature hyperosmolarity hemolysis were studied before and afte r modulation with adrenergic and lipotropic agents. Results. Atopic BA was characterized by increased erythrocyte electrical ca pacity and inversion of adrenaline and obzidan effects on electrical impeda nce, initially high erythrocyte resistance to low- temperature hyperosmolar ity effects. Bacterial asthma demonstrated the opposite trend in both imped ance and haemolysis parameters. Conclusion. There is low erythrocyte membrane microviscosity in atopic BA, but high microviscosity in bacterial asthma. Basing on these findings the a uthors propose to use essential phospholipids in the treatment of bacterial BA.