Evaluation of erythrocyte deformability in subjects with essential arterial hypertension

: Red blood cell filtration rate was studied in patients with essential hypertension selected according to the homogeneity of parameters which could interfere with such a test. An increase of filtration time in control subjects was put in evidence both in patients without vascular complications and in patients with cerebrovascular diseases; no significant difference was seen between the two groups. The red cell filterability behavior can be correlated to hypertension and is an expression of red cell deformability alterations. The variation of this hemorheological parameter could be better defined by an improvement of the red cell filterability test and by further studies on the membrane function in essential hypertension.