FATTY LIVER DISEASE OF MIXED GENESIS: FEATURES OF ELECTRIC AND VISCOELASTIC PARAMETERS OF ERYTHROCYTES

Kruchinina Margarita Vitalievna, Belkovets Anna Vladimirovna, Parulikova Marina Vladimirovna, Gromov Andrey Alexandrovich

The aim of the work is to study the features of electrical and viscoelastic parameters of erythrocytes of patients with fatty liver disease of mixed genesis (metabolic + alcoholic) using the method of dielectrophoresis. Materials and methods. 31 men (50.6 ± 9.9 years old) with fatty liver disease (FLD) of mixed genesis (metabolic + alcoholic) with a degree of fibrosis 0-1 (FibroScan ® 502 Echosens, France) were examined. The electrical, viscoelastic parameters of erythrocytes were studied by dielectrophoresis using an electro-optical cell detection system in an inhomogeneous alternating electric field. Results. It was found that patients with fatty liver disease of mixed genesis (metabolic + alcoholic), compared with the control group, had erythrocytes of smaller diameter (p<0.05), with a greater proportion of spherocytic (p=0.0004), deformed forms (p=0.0005) with less ability to deform (p<0.0001), higher summerized indicators of viscosity (p<0.0001), rigidity (p<0.0001). The red blood cells of patients with FLD had a lower surface charge, reflected by lower values of cell velocity to the electrodes (p<0.001), dipole moment (p<0.0001), higher aggregation index (p=0.002). The membranes of erythrocytes with FLD had a higher ability to conduct electric current (p<0.0001), a lower capacity (p<0.00001). In mixed genesis FLD, reduced resistance of erythrocytes is associated with lower levels of polarizability at high frequencies of the electric field (106, 0,5x106 Hz) (p<0.00001), relative polarizability (p<0.001) and higher - at frequencies of 0,1x106 and 0,05x106 Hz (p<0.0001), as well as a tendency to hemolysis at all frequencies of the electric field (p= 0.01-0.05). The equilibrium frequency at the FLD is shifted to the high-frequency range (p= 0.0003). Correlations of the levels of electrical, viscoelastic parameters of erythrocytes with biochemical indicators reflecting the manifestation of metabolic syndrome, liver function disorders, and with indicators of alcohol consumption style, which probably reflects the potentiating effect of two etiological factors on red blood cells. Conclusion. The revealed features of the electrical, viscoelastic parameters of erythrocytes in patients with mixed genesis fatty liver disease (metabolic + alcoholic) should be considered promising as biomarkers of this pathology and targets for therapeutic effects.

Keywords:fatty liver disease, mixed genesis, erythrocyte parameters, dielectrophoresis