Thermal damage to red cells

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Abstract
Erythrocytes from a burned patient show a temporal sequence of morphological changes. Immediate severe changes occur which are followed by a transient phase only of less abnormal morphology. Heating whole blood in vitro to 49°C instead of 50°C does not show the expected dose response curve. Heating whole blood in vitro to 50°C induces progressive morphological changes. Fractionation of whole blood and subsequent heating to 48°C show the older cells to be less deformable.