Background: The occurrence of spur-cell anaemia in the course of cirrhosis is rare. Alterations of the lipid composition and fluidity of erythrocyte (RBC) ghosts may be present and participate in the phenomenon. Methods: A 59-year-old male patient with alcoholic cirrhosis developed severe spur-cell haemolytic anaemia before death. We compared his RBC ghosts with those of 10 cirrhotic patients and used a group of 9 healthy subjects as controls. Results: The cholesterol to protein ratio was higher in cirrhotic patients; besides, they had less unsaturated fatty acid. The ratio of phospholipid phosphorus to protein did nor change; yet, the distribution of phosphorus among phospholipid classes was altered. No difference in 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene fluorescence anisotropy (membrane fluidity) was observed between the ghosts of cirrhotic patients and those of healthy people. However, the ghosts of the patient with spur-cell anaemia were more rigid than those of either group. Conclusions: The values of most variables of cirrhotic patients' ghosts lay between those of healthy subjects and those of the one who developed spur-cell anaemia. It is concluded that some homeostatic mechanisms must control fluidity during cirrhosis; in some cases alterations are particularly great, and fluidity cannot be maintained.

Liver alcoholic cirrhosis and spur-cell (acanthocytic) anaemia. A study of erythrocyte ghost composition and fluidity

PUXEDDU, Efisio;
1995

Abstract

Background: The occurrence of spur-cell anaemia in the course of cirrhosis is rare. Alterations of the lipid composition and fluidity of erythrocyte (RBC) ghosts may be present and participate in the phenomenon. Methods: A 59-year-old male patient with alcoholic cirrhosis developed severe spur-cell haemolytic anaemia before death. We compared his RBC ghosts with those of 10 cirrhotic patients and used a group of 9 healthy subjects as controls. Results: The cholesterol to protein ratio was higher in cirrhotic patients; besides, they had less unsaturated fatty acid. The ratio of phospholipid phosphorus to protein did nor change; yet, the distribution of phosphorus among phospholipid classes was altered. No difference in 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene fluorescence anisotropy (membrane fluidity) was observed between the ghosts of cirrhotic patients and those of healthy people. However, the ghosts of the patient with spur-cell anaemia were more rigid than those of either group. Conclusions: The values of most variables of cirrhotic patients' ghosts lay between those of healthy subjects and those of the one who developed spur-cell anaemia. It is concluded that some homeostatic mechanisms must control fluidity during cirrhosis; in some cases alterations are particularly great, and fluidity cannot be maintained.
1995
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11391/125992
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 11
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 9
social impact