Biomaterial Database

[Morphology and deformability of erythrocytes in muscular dystrophy]. 1978

C Garceau, and P F Leblond, and J Lyonnais, and A Beaupré

In recent years, the presence of red cell morphological abnormalities in patients with Muscular Dystrophy has made the object of numerous, often contradictory reports. A possible source of such confusion may lie in the fact that human erythrocytes are extremely sensitive to morphologic transformations resulting from various manipulations or environmental conditions in vitro. We have examined the morphology and deformability of erythrocytes from 7 patients with Duchenne and 9 patients with Steinert (myotonic) Muscular Dystrophy. To avoid preparation artifacts, fresh, unwashed red cells suspended in their own plasma were examined under phase contrast microscopy for the presence of either echinocytes and stomatocytes. Deformability was measured by filtration of dilute cell suspensions at constant flow rate through nucleopore membranes (nominal pore diameter = 3 micron). No significant difference was found between the patients' cells and those of 22 healthy volunteer controls. We conclude that previously reported abnormalities may have been the result of preparation artifacts. It appears possible, however, that erythrocytes from Muscular Dystrophy patients may be more sensitive than normal ones to certain stimuli originating from red cell manipulations in vitro.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008858	Microscopy, Phase-Contrast	A form of interference microscopy in which variations of the refracting index in the object are converted into variations of intensity in the image. This is achieved by the action of a phase plate.	Phase-Contrast Microscopy,Microscopies, Phase-Contrast,Microscopy, Phase Contrast,Phase Contrast Microscopy,Phase-Contrast Microscopies
D009136	Muscular Dystrophies	A heterogeneous group of inherited MYOPATHIES, characterized by wasting and weakness of the SKELETAL MUSCLE. They are categorized by the sites of MUSCLE WEAKNESS; AGE OF ONSET; and INHERITANCE PATTERNS.	Muscular Dystrophy,Myodystrophica,Myodystrophy,Dystrophies, Muscular,Dystrophy, Muscular,Myodystrophicas,Myodystrophies
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D004910	Erythrocyte Membrane	The semi-permeable outer structure of a red blood cell. It is known as a red cell 'ghost' after HEMOLYSIS.	Erythrocyte Ghost,Red Cell Cytoskeleton,Red Cell Ghost,Erythrocyte Cytoskeleton,Cytoskeleton, Erythrocyte,Cytoskeleton, Red Cell,Erythrocyte Cytoskeletons,Erythrocyte Ghosts,Erythrocyte Membranes,Ghost, Erythrocyte,Ghost, Red Cell,Membrane, Erythrocyte,Red Cell Cytoskeletons,Red Cell Ghosts
D004912	Erythrocytes	Red blood cells. Mature erythrocytes are non-nucleated, biconcave disks containing HEMOGLOBIN whose function is to transport OXYGEN.	Blood Cells, Red,Blood Corpuscles, Red,Red Blood Cells,Red Blood Corpuscles,Blood Cell, Red,Blood Corpuscle, Red,Erythrocyte,Red Blood Cell,Red Blood Corpuscle
D004913	Erythrocytes, Abnormal	Oxygen-carrying RED BLOOD CELLS in mammalian blood that are abnormal in structure or function.	Abnormal Erythrocytes,Abnormal Erythrocyte,Erythrocyte, Abnormal
D005374	Filtration	A process of separating particulate matter from a fluid, such as air or a liquid, by passing the fluid carrier through a medium that will not pass the particulates. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Filtrations
D005500	Follow-Up Studies	Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease.	Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man