Ethanol and erythrocyte membrane interaction: a hemorheologic perspective

Previous studies have documented structural and functional changes induced by ethanol-erythrocyte membrane interaction. In order to perform an in vitr o study on the effect of different ethanol concentrations on erythrocyte he morheologic properties, blood samples were collected from 21 male donors at the Hospital of Santa Maria. Whole blood aliquots were incubated with etha nol solutions of rising concentrations. The following parameters were measu red: erythrocyte aggregation, haemoglobin, carboxyhaemoglobin and methaemog lobin concentrations, hematocrit, plasma osmolality and erythrocyte membran e fluidity (fluorescence polarisation probes TMA-DPH and DPH). With ethanol blood concentrations of 45 mM a rise in plasma osmolality (0.352 Osm/kg H2 O vs 0.310 Osm/kg H2O; p < 0.001) was verified. With 67 mM concentration a decrease of erythrocyte aggregation (11.03 vs 12.81; p < 0.05) and an incre ase in plasma osmolality (0.380 Osm/kg H2O vs 0.310 Osm/kg H2O; p < 0.001) were obtained. In conclusion, ethanol only changes erythrocyte aggregation for a concentration of 67 mM. These data could lead to future changes in th erapeutic approaches to situations such as alcoholic coma.