Effect of Transfer of Erythrocytes to a Nonuremic Medium on Corpuscular Parameters and Red Blood Cell Deformability in Patients Treated with CAPD and Hemodialysis

Abstract

We studied the effect produced on corpuscular parameters and erythrocyte deformability by transfer of red blood cells to a nontoxic isoosmotic medium. The study groups were uremic patients treated with hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Erythrocyte deformability was estimated by the erythrocyte filtration rate (EFR). Transfer resulted in a significant decrease in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and an increase in mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), in comparison with healthy controls. The principal cause for this may be an improvement in erythrotycte membrane function. The change was more marked in the CAPD than in the HD patients; CAPD patients displayed a clear tendency to microcytosis after changing media, not directly attributable to iron deficiency or aluminum intoxication. Erythrocyte deformability was decreased markedly in all the patients, but study of the EFR of washed erythrocytes suggested that there was more impairment in HD. These differences could have some effect on the response of the hemolytic component of the anemia of uremia to HD and CAPD.