Microscopic Monitoring of Erythrocytes Deformation Under Different Shear Stresses Using Computerized Cone and Plate Flow Chamber: Analytical Study of Normal Erythrocytes and Iron Deficiency Anemia

Erythrocytes deformation is one of the exciting properties of erythrocytes. It is still under investigation by many of the researchers in different disciplines. The clinicians and researchers are still looking for a simple and efficient method to monitor and tracking the erythrocytes deformation. This research article represented a microscopic technique that could be a helpful tool in evaluation and studying of erythrocytes deformation under different shear stresses. This technique was used to compare the deformation of normal erythrocytes and iron deficiency anemia. Elongation index was calculated and used in the quantitative analysis of erythrocytes deformation. It was found that the deformability of normal erythrocytes was higher than that of iron deficiency anemia. Normal erythrocytes and iron deficiency anemia showed strong negative correlations with the mean cell volume and the mean cell hemoglobin concentration under different shear stresses. This study introduces more understanding of the erythrocytes deformation by using a simple microscopic technique. The elongation index could be used as a measurable parameter to evaluate the deformability of the erythrocyte in normal and abnormal cases.