Changes in erythrocyte deformability in normal pregnancy and pregnancy-induced hypertension, as revealed by electron spin resonance.

To study changes in hemorheologic properties during pregnancy, erythrocyte deformability was measured by an electron spin resonance (ESR) method. The results obtained by this method showed that erythrocyte deformability in normal pregnancy decreased significantly in the first trimester compared with nonpregnant controls, and continued to decrease slightly as pregnancy progressed. On the other hand, erythrocyte deformability in severe pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) was significantly lower than that in the third trimester of normal pregnancy. Additionally, we found that the hematocrit level needed for erythrocytes to exhibit high deformability is lower during pregnancy. These results suggest that hemodilution in normal pregnancy, so-called hydremia, compensates for the decrease in erythrocyte deformability. Conversely, since erythrocytes become less deformable in a hemoconcentration condition in severe PIH, microcirculatory disturbance of various organs, including the uteroplacental unit, may occur. The lowered erythrocyte deformability may be one of the important pathologic features in PIH.