Serial changes in leukocyte deformability and whole blood rheology in patients with sepsis or trauma.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to investigate serial changes in leukocyte deformability and rheologic properties of whole blood in patients with sepsis or trauma.


METHODS
Seventeen sepsis patients and 22 trauma patients were enrolled. Leukocyte deformability and rheologic properties of whole blood were determined with the use of a microchannel array etched on a single-crystal silicon tip, simulating the microvasculature. The number of obstructed microchannels (NOM) was used as a measure of leukocyte deformability. Transit time (TT), i.e., the time taken for 100 microL of whole blood to pass through the microchannel array was also used as rheologic measure. Oxidative activity and F-actin content of neutrophils was measured in patients with sepsis.


RESULTS
NOM and TT significantly increased in patients when sepsis was diagnosed. In survivors, NOM and TT decreased at the time of recovery from sepsis, but in non-survivors values remained high. Oxidative activity and F-actin content of neutrophils increased significantly as leukocyte deformability decreased. In patients with severe trauma, NOM and TT increased after injury and decreased by the time of recovery from the critical stage.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that leukocyte deformability decreases in patients with sepsis or severe trauma and that this change negatively affects rheologic properties of whole blood.
Nishino
Masato
M
Department of Traumatology and Acute Critical Care Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Osaka, Japan.
Tanaka
Hiroshi
H
Ogura
Hiroshi
H
Inoue
Yoshiaki
Y
Koh
Taichin
T
Fujita
Kieko
K
Sugimoto
Hisashi
H
D000199:Actins / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001790:Blood Physiological Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D048430:Cell Shape; D005260:Female; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013481:Superoxides / Q000097:blood; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
D000199:Actins; D013481:Superoxides