Effects of verapamil on calcium-induced rigidity and on filterability of red blood cells from healthy volunteers and patients with progressive systemic sclerosis.

The effects of verapamil on calcium-induced decrease deformability of red blood cells (RBCs) and on the filterability of RBCs from healthy volunteers and patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) were investigated in vitro using a gravity driven filtration technique. The filterability of RBCs was increased by verapamil 1 microgram/ml (P less than 0.01) in healthy volunteers (P less than 0.05) and in patients with PSS (P less than 0.05). A high concentration of verapamil (200 micrograms/ml) caused an 80% reduction (P less than 0.05) in the filterability of RBCs from healthy volunteers. The filterability of RBCs stored at 4 degrees C for 24 h was increased by 1 microgram/ml verapamil (P less than 0.05). Verapamil (1 microgram/ml) prevented the decrease in deformability of RBCs due to an increase in either extracellular or intracellular calcium concentrations (P less than 0.05). By increasing red cell filterability verapamil may be useful in the treatment of PSS and other peripheral vascular diseases where decreased red cell deformability may play an important role in the pathogenesis.

[1]  P. Dieppe,et al.  Nifedipine in the treatment of Raynaud's syndrome. , 1986, Cardiovascular research.

[2]  V. Lew,et al.  Symposium on intracellular Ca2+ regulation: abstract of lectures and postersState of calcium in sickle cell anemia red cells , 1984 .

[3]  S. Sowemimo-Coker,et al.  Altered behaviour of erythrocytes in scleroderma. , 1983, Clinical science.

[4]  M. Creager,et al.  Nifedipine as a therapeutic modality for Raynaud's phenomenon. , 1983, Arthritis and rheumatism.

[5]  N. Ardlie,et al.  Effect of the Calcium-Entry Blocking Agent Nifedipine on Activation of Human Platelets and Comparison with Verapamil , 1983, Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

[6]  B. Amor,et al.  Nifedipine and Raynaud's phenomenon. , 1981, Annals of internal medicine.

[7]  A. Masi.  Preliminary criteria for the classification of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). , 1980, Bulletin on the rheumatic diseases.

[8]  J. White,et al.  Evaluation of the role of diacyglycerol in calcium-induced erythrocyte shape change and rigidity. , 1980, The Journal of laboratory and clinical medicine.

[9]  James F. Fries,et al.  Preliminary criteria for the classification of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Subcommittee for scleroderma criteria of the American Rheumatism Association Diagnostic and Therapeutic Criteria Committee. , 1980, Arthritis and rheumatism.

[10]  M. Kaltenbach,et al.  Verapamil and Norverapamil Plasma Concentrations During Long‐Term Therapy in Patients with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy , 1980, Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology.

[11]  J. White,et al.  Membrane abnormalities of irreversibly sickled cells. , 1979, Seminars in hematology.

[12]  J. Palek.  RED CELL MEMBRANE INJURY IN SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA , 1977, British journal of haematology.

[13]  L. Snyder,et al.  Effect of propranolol on normal human erythrocytes. , 1977, The Journal of laboratory and clinical medicine.

[14]  J. Palek,et al.  The dependence of shape of human erythrocyte ghosts on calcium, magnesium, and adenosine triphosphate. , 1974, Blood.

[15]  M. Lichtman,et al.  Divalent cation content of normal and ATP-depleted erythrocytes and erythrocyte membranes. , 1972, Nouvelle revue francaise d'hematologie.

[16]  B. C. Shin,et al.  Studies on the Active Transport of Calcium in Human Red Cells , 1969, The Journal of general physiology.

[17]  E. Merrill,et al.  Metabolic dependence of red cell deformability. , 1969, The Journal of clinical investigation.

[18]  H. Schatzmann,et al.  Calcium movements across the membrane of human red cells , 1969, The Journal of physiology.

[19]  E. Olson,et al.  Active Calcium and Strontium Transport in Human Erythrocyte Ghosts , 1969, The Journal of general physiology.

[20]  J. Hoffman.  The red cell membrane and the transport of sodium and potassium. , 1966, The American journal of medicine.

[21]  M. Nakao,et al.  Adenosine Triphosphate and Maintenance of Shape of the Human Red Cells , 1960, Nature.

[22]  G. Gardos,et al.  The role of calcium in the potassium permeability of human erythrocytes. , 1959, Acta physiologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae.