Microviscosity of erythrocyte membrane in hypertensive patients

Abstract

Twenty eight ambulatory patients (16 men and 12 women), suffering from essential hypertension, whose ages averaged 46.9 ± 9.6 years, were studied; the patients presented blood pressure values of 174.0 ± 22.7 mmHg systolic and 110.5 ± 11.7 mmHg diastolic. It was detected a significant rise of erythrocyte membrane microviscosity (p < 0.01) and a significant decrease of erythrocyte filtrability (p < 0.001). However, no significant correlation was observed between these two parameters. The results obtained suggest that essential hypertension induces or may be associated to intrinsic abnormalities of erythrocyte membrane eventually acting on globular flexibility.