Erythrocyte rheology and lipid peroxidation in burns.

Alterations in the erythrocyte rheology and the contents of activated free radical oxidation products (conjugated dienes, products of thiobarbituric acid and Schiff bases) in the acute phase of experimental thermic injury of the skin were studied. Erythrocyte flexibility reduction and erythrocyte aggregation increase correlated with elevated amounts of free radical oxidation products. Alpha-tocopherol avoided the accumulation of free radical oxidation products and improved both antioxidant defence and erythrocyte rheology. Thus we suppose that free radical oxidation products probably participate in the pathogenesis of erythrocyte rheology disturbances after thermic trauma.