Flow cytometric analysis as a quick and efficient method for morphological changes determination...

摘要

Flow cytometry is a general method for the rapid individual analysis of a large numbers of cells using light-scattering, fluorescence and absorbance measurements. The forward-scattered light provides informations about the size of the cells and can be detected without further manipulation. The sideways-scattered light is affected by several parameters, including granularity, cell size and cell morphology. Gaucher disease (GD) is a sphingolipidosis caused by a deficiency of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase and enhanced erythrophagocytosis is one feature of the disease indicating abnormal macrophage-RBC interactions. The aim of this study was to compare flow cytometric analysis with the morphology obtained by scanning electron microscopy analysis (SEM) of RBCs sampled from seven untreated type 1 GD patients and two of the same patients who then underwent nine months of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). The results provide that flow cytometric analysis can be a quick and efficient method in haematological diseases diagnosis and monitoring.