[Favourable erythrocyte rheology in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (author's transl)].

The rheological properties of erythrocytes of 6 patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency were studied. A method of filtration and measurements of viscosity of erythrocyte suspensions with a hematocrit of 80% were used. The erythrocytes of all patients were more flexible than the erythrocytes of healthy controls. The erythrocytes of the patients passed the polycarbonate filters with a pore diameter of 5 micron more rapidly and showed a lower viscosity of erythrocyte suspensions. The increased flexibility of erythrocytes was due to a lower hemoglobin content which was measured in isolated ghosts. After incubation of the cells with acetylphenylhydrazine, Heinz bodies formed in the erythrocytes of controls. The flexibility of these cells decreased markedly. Though more Heinz bodies were found in the erythrocytes of the patients when the cells were incubated under identical conditions, even these erythrocytes became less rigid than the erythrocytes of controls. From these results we condlude that the more flexible erythrocytes of the patients could pass the splenic sinus even when they contain Heinz bodies. The rheological properties of the erythrocytes explain why splenectomy is not efficient in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.