Increase of erythrocyte resistance to hemolysis and modification of membrane lipids induced by hemodialysis.

Mechanical fragility, deformability and lipid composition of erythrocyte membranes were studied in 22 uremic dialysed patients before and after dialysis in comparison to controls. While deformability was not affected by a dialysis session, osmotic and saponin resistances to hemolysis were significantly increased after dialysis (p less than 0.001). The lipid composition of erythrocyte membranes was also altered during dialysis, with a notable increase in cholesterol and a different phospholipid distribution, i.e. phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin significantly decreased (p less than 0.001). Likewise, the fatty acid distribution showed large variations with an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acid. The acute effect of dialysis on the membrane lipid composition seems to be linked to erythrocyte alterations. Its significance is discussed in relation to the asymmetric transverse distribution of phospholipids previously described in human erythrocyte.