Get the facts on Spur Cell Anemia treatment, diagnosis, staging, causes, types, symptoms. Information and current news about clinical trials and trial-related data, Spur Cell Anemia prevention, screening, research, statistics and other Spur Cell Anemia related topics. We answer all your qestions about Spur Cell Anemia.
Question: Why does high cholesterol in cell membranes mean the cell gets destroyed by the spleen? This happens in patients with spur cell anaemia. I know that the presence of cholesterol reduces fluidity and makes the membrane rigid but why does this mean that it has to be detroyed?
Answer: The more cholesterol in the cell membrane the less deformable/more rigid the membrane becomes. This is a problem because red blood cells have to squeeze through capillaries. To get through the tiniest ones they need to deform and spring back to their original shape. If the membrane is too rigid, the red blood cell stays deformed. The problem with a deformed red blood cell is that it can no longer optimally 'give' oxygen to tissues. The true shape of a red blood cell, a bi-concave disk- is the most efficient way to transfer oxygen and CO2 into and out of tissues. If it's deformed it can't do so efficiently and is 'weeded out' by the spleen.
