Abstract
Hypotonic resistance of erythrocytes using coil planet centrifuge (CPC) system and shape of erythrocytes in the stained smears of peripheral blood were examined in 90 patients of portal hypertension. The numbers of target cells were increased followed by the shift to lower osmolal side of hemolysis end point (HEP) in all patients after splenectomy. A close relationship between HEP and number of target cell was obserbed. HEP was not different among various groups of liver damages and also HEP before splenectomy was not different from healthy controls. Erythrocytes seemed to be modified during their passages through large spleen in the direct ion of decreased hypotonic resistance. Decrease in serum bilirubin level and improvement of anemia after splenectomy suggest the elimination of hemolytic process of spleen. From these results, it was concluded that hypotonic resistance of erythrocytes in portal hypertension was greatly influenced by spleen rather than liver function.
