The erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation test (EAAT). A new biomarker to reveal the presence of low grade subclinical smoldering inflammation in individuals with atherosclerotic risk factors.
BACKGROUND
Multiple acute phase proteins and atherosclerotic risk factors increase the aggregability of erythrocytes.


RESULTS
We used a simple slide test and image analysis to determine the degree of erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation in the peripheral blood of 222 women and 221 men with no, one, two or more atherosclerotic risk factors. The degree of erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation correlated significantly with the concentration of commonly used variables of the acute phase response. We also showed that individuals with low erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation tend to be younger and to have fewer risk factors for atherosclerosis, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between increased erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation, higher concentrations of acute phase proteins, and increased atherosclerotic risk factors points to a possible clinical applicability of the erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation test (EAAT) to reveal the presence of both low-grade subclinical smoldering inflammation and morbid biology in individuals with risk factors for atherosclerosis.
Rotstein
Rivka
R
Department of Internal Medicine 'D', Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6 Weizman Street, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel.
Landau
Tali
T
Twig
Abraham
A
Rubinstein
Ardon
A
Koffler
Michael
M
Justo
Daniel
D
Constantiner
Doron
D
Zeltser
David
D
Shapira
Itzhak
I
Mardi
Tamar
T
Goldin
Yelena
Y
Berliner
Shlomo
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol