Aggregation of shape-altered erythrocytes: An in vitro study

Normal erythrocytes (discocytes) obtained from the blood samples of healthy volunteers are subjected to shape transformation into stomatocytes and ech inocytes by treatment with various concentrations of Triton x 100 and sodiu m salicylate, respectively. Aggregation index of these samples is measured by Myrenne aggregometer. As deformability of these cells contributes to the ir aggregation process, this parameter is also measured by Myrenne filtrome ter, The results show that the morphological changes in these cells: are do se-dependent which affect the aggregation and deformability of these cells. The deformability of echinocytes does not show significant increase with i ncreasing concentration, whereas, a significant decrease for stomatocytes i s observed. Despite the varying pattern of deformability, the aggregation o f these shape-altered cells is reduced.