Red cell membrane dynamic properties and erythrocyte metabolic parameters in essential hypertension: preliminary report.

In a group of 12 subjects with essential hypertension (EH), we evaluated the erythrocyte membrane fluidity and red cell membrane transverse fluidity gradient. We also evaluated the total red cell Ca content, the red cell cytosolic free calcium, the red cell membrane cholesterol/phospholipid ratio and the red cell membrane individual phospholipids. From the data obtained, it is evident that the erythrocyte membrane fluidity and red cell membrane transverse fluidity gradient discriminate normals from hypertensives. None of the red cell metabolic parameters is able, however, to differentiate normals from hypertensive subjects. Our data underline the abnormality of the red cell membrane dynamic properties in hypertension; this abnormality is not, however, related to the red cell metabolic parameters considered.