Erythrocyte cholesterol content in polycythemia vera: Relation to ischemic heart disease

Relative cholesterol content and its distribution between erythrocytes and plasma were studied in 34 patients with polycythemia vera (PV) both with and without concomitant coronary heart disease (CHID). Deformability of erythrocytes, disturbances of microcirculation (blood flow fragmentation, decrease of capillary density) were also assessed. Erythrocytes cholesterol/ phospholipids molar ratios (0.68+/-0.03) in patients was lower than normal value (0.8) in spite of decreased cell deformability. This was associated with some increase of peroxidation products. Blood cholesterol distribution between cell and plasma species had some peculiarities caused by high hematocrit: compared with normal value erythrocytes of patients carried relatively larger portion of total blood cholesterol (23.7+/-0.8% and 27-31%, respectively). However in CHD patients these values were significantly lower with correspondent increase of plasma cholesterol quota. This allowed to suggest possible protective role of blood cholesterol redistribution in polycythemia patients, through erythrocytes trafficking of some part of plasma cholesterol.