ERYTHROCYTE AGGREGATION IN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM MONOCLONAL GAMMOPATHIES - INCIDENCE OF PLASMA-EXCHANGE TREATMENT

Analyses of erythrocyte aggregation have been carried out in 15 patients with multiple myeloma or Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia before and after plasma exchange. The volume of exchanged plasma was about 1.2-1.5 plasmatic mass. It was replaced by the same volume of a 4 % solution of human albumin. Each treatment included at least 3 plasma exchanges at 48 hours intervals. The kinetic (aggregation times) and rheological (dissociation threshold) parameters of erythrocyte aggregation were determined before and immediately after each plasma exchange using a device based on the analysis of the backscattered light by a blood suspension. Before the first plasma exchange, erythrocyte aggregation measurements revealed a pronounced reduction in time aggregation and high values of dissociation thresholds indicating an hyperaggregation of red cells. The successive plasma exchanges produced very different changes in erythrocyte aggregation. For some patients, the aggregation parameters presented normal values from the first plasma exchange when similar changes were only noted after the second plasma exchange in other patients. Finally, in some cases, an hyperaggregation state was maintained after a series of three plasma exchanges. The influence of the nature and the concentration of monoclonal immunoglobulin as well as plasmatic fibrinogen are discussed.