Serum lipids as minor determinants of the degree of erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation in the peripheral blood of individuals with low grade inflammation and moderately increased serum lipids.

Both lipids and inflammation sensitive proteins have been reported to affect the aggregation of red blood cells yet their relative importance in this regard have not been determined. We have included high sensitive C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation, fibrinogen concentrations as well as various serum lipid concentrations and the degree of erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation in the peripheral blood in a linear regression analysis. Partial Pearson correlation coefficients were included as well. In a group of 674 individuals with various atherosclerotic risk factors, low grade inflammation and moderately increased serum lipids, a relatively low correlation was noted between red blood cell adhesiveness/aggregation and triglycerides concentrations. A negative correlation was noted for HDL cholesterol. None of the lipid variables turned significant in the regression analysis. In a group of individuals with atherosclerotic risk factors, low grade inflammation and moderately increased serum lipids, the degree of erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation in the peripheral blood correlates much better with the presence of inflammation sensitive proteins than with the presence of increased lipid concentrations.

The erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation test for the detection of an acute phase response and for the assessment of its intensity.

We have developed a simple slide test and image analysis to reveal the state of erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation in the peripheral blood of patients with various degrees of the humoral acute phase response. The significant correlation between the results of the erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation test (EAAT), the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fibrinogen concentration support the notion that it is possible to use the EAAT as a marker for the intensity of the acute phase response. Within a group of 860 individuals, we were able to differentiate effectively between groups of patients with a different intensity of humoral acute phase response. The present study confirms previous observations that support the applicability of the EAAT to routine clinical practice.