RED-BLOOD-CELL AGGREGATION IN EXPERIMENTAL SEPSIS

Red blood cell (RBC) aggregation was investigated in a rat model of se psis with special emphasis on RBC-related factors. Sepsis was produced by cecal ligation/ puncture, whereas another group had only laparotom y (sham operation); blood samples also were obtained from control, uno perated-on animals, RBC aggregation was measured in autologous plasma and in 3% dextran 70, 18 hours after the operations, by using a Myrenn e Aggregometer system and the zeta sedimentation ratio (ZSR) method. R BC aggregation in autologous plasma was found to be enhanced in both s ham-operated and septic animals and was consistent with their increase d plasma fibrinogen levels, However, RBC aggregation in dextran was si gnificantly higher than control only in the sepsis group, RBCs from se ptic animals also aggregated more in septic plasma compared with RBCs from control animals, In the sepsis group, RBC deformability was signi ficantly decreased, whereas RBC lipid preoxidation was significantly i ncreased, Our results thus confirm the known increase of RBC aggregati on in septicemia and, in addition, demonstrate marked alterations of i ntrinsic RBC properties that further enhance red cell aggregation.