A novel technique for quantification of erythrocyte aggregation abnormalities in pathophysiological situations.

Red blood cell (RBC) aggregation in blood samples taken from healthy volunteers and from multiple myeloma (MM), iron deficiency (IDA) and beta-minor thalassemia (T) patients was studied by a novel method based on electrical properties of colloidal systems. It was found that RBC aggregation changes in the following order: MM > IDA > control > or = T. Comparison of aggregation data obtained by this and other techniques shows that the sensitivity of the proposed technique to detect abnormal changes in RBC aggregation is substantially higher. For example, the mean values of relative aggregation indices measured for MM by this method and that based on the phenomenon of light scattering are 13.0 and 4.2, respectively. The high sensitivity of this technique allows investigations of the effect of moderate aggregating agents (i.e., IgG) on RBC aggregation. It is assumed that the higher sensitivity of the proposed technique to abnormal changes in RBC aggregation may be helpful both in basic studies to improve the understanding of the reason(s) for these abnormal changes, and in clinical investigations for earlier diagnostics.