Plasma dependent reduction in red blood cell aggregation after dextran sulfate low-density lipoprotein apheresis - Implications for rheological studies

Vered Schechner, Ronen Ben-Ami, Tiberiu Hershcovici, Shaul Yedgar, Ytzhak Beigel, Itzhak Shapira*, Shlomo Berliner, Gershon Barsthein

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Red blood cell (RBC) aggregation is increased in familial hypercholesterolemia, and is reduced significantly after low density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis. The purpose of the present study was to clarify whether this reduction depends on changes in plasma composition, RBC membrane properties, or both. RBC aggregation was determined in a computerized cell flow-properties analyzer, before and after LDL apheresis. We compared RBC aggregation in autologous plasma with aggregation in a plasma-free standard solution (0.5% of dextran 500 kDa) to define the separate contributions of plasma and cellular properties to the observed RBC aggregation. RBC aggregation in autologous plasma was reduced by 35.5% after LDL apheresis (P = 0.01) but was not significantly affected when measured in dextran 500. This suggests that LDL apheresis attenuated RBC aggregation by altering plasma composition rather than RBC membrane properties. These results are relevant to the understanding of hemorheological changes which follow therapeutic apheresis in hypercholesterolemic patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)379-384
Number of pages6
JournalTherapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis
Volume9
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2005

Keywords

  • Erythrocyte aggregation
  • Low density lipoprotein apheresis
  • Plasma

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