Red cell filterability and erythrocyte membrane microviscosity during ticlopidine treatment.

The effects of 10 days' treatment with 500 mg/day ticlopidine on the filterability of red blood cells in suspension and on the microviscosity of the red blood cell membrane was evaluated in 11 patients with vascular atherosclerosis. The results show ticlopidine to be effective in influencing the rheological measures of red cell filterability and membrane microviscosity: filterability was increased and microviscosity was decreased. Ticlopidine also decreased the extent of fluorescence polarization. These results are discussed regarding possible mechanisms of action of ticlopidine.