Altered rheological properties of RBCs in hemoglobinopathies

At atmospheric pO₂ and at 25°C the red blood cell rigidity is highly increased in sickle cell syndromes (SS and AS) and in β thalassemia (minor and intermedia). The initial filtration flow rate of RBCs was evaluated with the hemorheometre. The individual transit time of cells passing through 5 μ pores was measured with a new apparatus the “cell transit time analyser” which permitted the study of up to 1000 cells in one minute. This method showed the heterogeneity of normal and sickle cell.s at atmospheric pO₂.