Effect of pentoxifylline on single red cell deformability.

In the present investigation the effect of pentoxifylline on single red cell deformability was determined. The deformability of human red blood cells were measured in a Singlepore Erythrocytes Rigidometer (SER). The new method determines optoelectronically the passage of each individual cell through a singlepore membrane (6 micrometers diameter and 50 micrometers length) under a driving pressure gradient (delta p = 100 Pa, tau = 3 Pa). Venous human blood samples were taken, prepared and divided into three samples. Sample A served as a physiological control, while to sample B and C CaCl2-solution was added. After Ca2+ stress sample C was incubated with 0.36 mmol/l pentoxifylline. The medium passage time (MPT) for sample A was 43.3 +/- 6.5 ms and for sample B 87.5 +/- 14.7 ms. The addition of pentoxifylline to the Ca2+-treated red cell suspension (sample C) reduced the MPT to 51.6 +/- 11.3 ms.