COIL PLANET CENTRIFUGATION: ALTERED PATTERNS OF HEMOLYSIS BAND IN HEPATOBILIARY DISORDERS, AND THEIR DIAGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE
Blood samples were collected from 36 patients with various hepatobiliary disorders (acute, subacute, and chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, hepatoma, and biliary tract obstruction), and examined by coil planet centrifugation periodically at intervals of approximately a week for 1 to 3 months. The shape of the hemolysis bands appearing in the coils (with hemolysis peak to the left side: L, at the midpoint: M, forming a table-like plateau: T, and to the right side: R) were recorded by a photoelectric densitograph, and collated with the shift of hemolysis end point toward the hypo-osmolar side to observe the altered properties of erythrocyte membrane in these diseases. The densitography disclosed significant changes in the shape of hemolysis bands according to the diseases of different types and with the vicissitudes of the clinical course. (1) There was a correlation between the shape of hemolysis band and the severity of diseases. Shapes L, M, T and R were indicative of disturbances of slight, slight to moderate, moderate and severe grades, respectively. (2) In subacute yellow atrophy of the liver (subacute hepatitis) the shape R hemolysis band was prevalent. (3) In acute hepatitis which took a favorable course the hemolysis band was of R type during its active stage and assumed L type in recovery stage, passing through T and M types during the intermediate stage. (4) In chronic hepatitis the hemolysis band was commonly of T type in shape, and with the progress in recovery it took the shapes of M and then L in the order listed. (5) In liver cirrhosis the hemolysis band was of L type (with narrow width). The hemolysis starting and end points both shifted to the hypo-osmolar side. This pattern remained stationary during the whole course of disease. (6) In hepatoma both the hemolysis end and starting points shifted to the hypo-osmolar side gradully with the advance in illness, and the hemolysis band was commonly of R type. (7) In biliary obstruction the hemolysis band was wide with a plateau at its peak (T type), resembling chronic hepatitis in shape. The hemolysis end point shifted toward the hypo-osmolar side. The pattern was of T type so long as the obstruction was persistent.
