Deformability of red blood cells in eczema.

Normal erythrocytes (RBCs) are flexible and deformable while erythrocytes obtained from patients with eczema showed a decrease in flexibility when compared with erythrocytes obtained from normal healthy individuals. This decrease in RBC deformability among eczematous patients was found to be statistically significant (p less than 0.001). This decrease in deformability is related to both an increase in intracellular and extracellular Ca2+ which in turn leads to K+ efflux (Gardos effects). The Gardos effect is thought to be physiologically important since the erythrocyte controls its intracellular volume and, hence, internal viscosity by controlling salt and water movement.