Erythrocyte deformability in a red cell ageing model.

The authors studied the effect of a period of storage on erythrocyte deformability in blood samples collected from 31 healthy subjects. A significant reduction in erythrocyte deformability was recorded over the course of time. The study was designed to determine whether pentoxifylline produces a dose-dependent increase in erythrocyte deformability in red cells from ageing blood. The effect of theophylline and prednisolone on this parameter was also studied. A dose-dependent increase in erythrocyte deformability was established for pentoxifylline and was measurable immediately after addition of the substance. Theophylline increased erythrocyte deformability but not to a degree which differed significantly from the controls. Prednisolone elicited a slight reduction in erythrocyte deformability, but again the change was not significant by comparison with the controls. None of the substances brought about any change in the rate of red cell ageing.