Red blood cell deformability and aggregation in chronic venous disease patients with varicose veins.

INTRODUCTION Red blood cells' (RBC) rheological properties are disturbed in chronic venous disease (CVD). The aim of the study was to compare deformability and aggregation of erythrocytes taken from the varicose vein and the antecubital vein of patients with chronic venous disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS Blood samples were taken from twelve CVD patients presenting clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathological elements (CEAP) stages II and III. Blood was sampled from varicose veins and antecubital veins of patients (as control). Deformability and aggregation of RBC were analysed with a Laser-assisted Optical Rotational Cell Analyser (LORCA). RESULTS A significant increase in deformability was found in varicose vein RBC for shear stress values 4.24, 8.23 and 15.96 Pa as compared to RBC from the antecubital vein. The aggregation index was significantly lower and aggregation halftime was significantly increased for RBC taken from antecubital veins than for RBC from varicose veins. DISCUSSION In conclusion, RBC taken from varicose and antecubital veins of CVD patients are not entirely rheologically comparable and show different deformability and aggregation. Varicose vein RBC are more deformable and show a higher tendency for aggregation than antecubital vein RBC. Perhaps the deformability of varicose vein RBC has been increased as a compensation mechanism in subjects with CVD, due to increased resistance in their microcirculation.