GLYCATED ERYTHROCYTE-MEMBRANE PROTEINS AND HEMORHEOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETIC SUBJECTS

Glycated erythrocyte membrane proteins and some metabolic parameters (plasma glucose profile, glycosuria, glycated haemoglobin, glycated serum proteins, cholesterol, triglycerides) were evaluated in 35 subjects, that is, 20 insulin dependent diabetics and 15 controls, matched for sex and age. Whole blood and washed erythrocyte filtrability, whole blood,- washed erythrocyte - and plasma viscosity were evaluated in all subjects. Glycated erythrocyte membrane proteins were significantly higher in diabetics with respect to controls (10.6 +/- 0.4 vs 4.3 +/- 0.2 nmlHMF/mg prot; p < 0.001) and correlated with all the metabolic parameters considered. Significantly lower values of whole blood and washed erythrocyte filtrability (2.0 +/- 0.13 vs 2.4 +/- 0.13 ml/min, p < 0.011; and 5.85 +/- 0.11 vs 6.58 +/- 0.18 ml/min, p < 0.001) and significantly higher values of washed erythrocyte viscosity were found in diabetics with respect to controls (2.20 +/- 0.05 vs 2.03 +/- 0.04 cP, p < 0.02). Glycated erythrocyte membrane proteins were inversely related to washed erythrocyte filtrability in diabetic patients. A demonstrable effect on erythrocyte filtrability is caused by the degree of glycation on erythrocyte membrane proteins of non diabetic subjects incubated with glucose. A very close relationship was found between the two alterations (r = 0.82, p < 0.001). These results suggest that the glycation of erythrocyte membrane proteins could be an important factor determining some haemorheological alterations in diabetics.