Erythrocyte cellular and membrane deformability in hereditary spherocytosis
K Nakashima and E Beutler
In order to determine whether the relative rigidity of the hereditary
spherocytosis (HS) red cell is due to membrane rididity or merely to an
altered surface/volume ratio, we investigated the deformability of resealed
red cell membranes from patients with HS. Whereas the osmotic fragility of
intact red cells of HS patients showed the expected increase, the osmotic
fragility of resealed HS membranes was normal, thus indicating that their
surface/volume ratio was normal. Measurements with an ektacytometer showed
that deformability of intact HS cells was markedly diminished, whereas
deformability of resealed HS membranes was normal. These findings indicate
that the HS red cell membrane is not intrinsically abnormally rigid, as has
been suggested, but that the lack of deformability of the erythrocyte is
primarily a function of the altered surface/volume ratio.
Volume 53,
Issue 3,
pp. 481-485,
03/01/1979
Copyright © 1979 by The American Society of Hematology
