Erythrocyte deformability and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in normal pregnancy and puerperium

: Erythrocyte deformability and erythrocyte adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were measured in normal pregnancy and puerperium. Erythrocyte deformability was determined by measuring filtered volumes of red cell-plasma or buffer suspension per second. Erythrocytes from pregnant women at 16-27 weeks, 28-31 weeks and 36-41 weeks of gestation were found to be significantly less deformable than erythrocytes from non pregnant women. On 0-1 day after delivery, erythrocyte deformability was significantly reduced, compared with that at 36-41 weeks of gestation. Erythrocyte ATP levels at 16-27 weeks, 28-31 weeks and 36-41 weeks of gestation were significantly lower than that in non pregnant women. In puerperium, erythrocyte ATP levels dropped significantly compared with those in late gestational period. From these results, it was suggested that the depressed erythrocyte deformabilities were accompanied by a lowering of erythrocyte ATP levels in pregnancy and puerperium.