Comparison of Phosphatidylserine-Exposing Red Blood Cells, Fragmented Red Blood Cells and Red Blood Cell-Derived Microparticles in β-Thalassemia/HbE Patients.

Objective: To determine the number and intensity of phosphatidylserine (PS) expression of the red blood cells (RBCs), fragmented RBCs, and RBC-derived microparticles (RMPs) in patients with β-thalassemia/hemoglobin (Hb)E.

Methods: We used flow cytometry to determine the number and levels of PS expression.

Results: The number of PS-exposing RBCs was statistically significantly higher (P <.001) than that of PS-exposing fragmented RBCs or RMPs. In contrast, the intensity of PS expression was significantly higher (P <.001) in RMPs than in RBCs or fragmented RBCs. Our study showed a trend of association between RBC distribution width (RDW) and both the number of fragmented RBCs and RMPs and their intensity of PS expression.

Conclusion: In β-thalassemia/HbE, PS-exposing RBCs, fragmented RBCs, and RMPs all differed in their numbers and their intensity of PS expression. The effects of these differences among PS-exposing populations on the pathophysiology of the disease require further investigation.