Erythrocyte individual phospholipids and erythrocyte membrane fluidity in subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease with and without diabetes mellitus of type 2.

In a group of 12 subjects (5 men, 7 women) with vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD) and in a group of 17 subjects (9 men, 8 women) with VAD and with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) we evaluated the red cell membrane individual phospholipids and their relationships with the erythrocyte membrane fluidity. Examining the group of non diabetic subjects with VAD, it is evident that no difference is present between normals and this group regarding individual phospholipids; in this group is present a slight correlation between the erythrocyte membrane fluidity (expressed as Iex/Im ratio) and phosphatidylethanolamine only. Examining the group of VAD subjects with NIDDM it is evident that between normals and this group a significant difference is present for phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine; in this group no relationship is evident between red cell membrane individual phospholipids and Iex/Im ratio.