The specific electric conductivity of erythrocyte ghosts and hemoglobin in alcoholism

: Changes of electric conductivity of red cell shadows and hemoglobin were measured in 36 alcoholics in various periods of abstinence. Electric conductivity varied as a function of temperature [sigma (T)]. It was compared with viscosity of red cell shadows suspensions and some indexes of red blood. The absolute values of red cell shadows and hemoglobin electric conductivity in alcoholics were higher than in controls in the whole temperature range (34-41 degrees C), being associated with decreased temperature coefficient (delta sigma/delta T). Over the treatment the absolute values of sigma decreased and delta sigma/delta T increased. In normal subjects the curves sigma (T) had a wave within the temperature range 37-38 degrees C which apparently reflected the phasic transition. In alcoholics the wave on the curves sigma (T) either disappeared or showed abnormal variations at 36 and 38 degrees C during the acute period of abstinence. Two weeks later the only variation at 37 degrees C appeared, its intensity increasing with prolongation of abstinent period. The changes seen in the curves sigma (T) correlated with peculiarities of red cell viscosity in the temperature range 34-41 degrees C.