Effect of etidronate disodium on filterability of sickle cell erythrocytes.

The effect of etidronate disodium on the deformability of human sickle cell erythrocytes was determined. A filtration process that demonstrated changes in trapping of 51Cr-tagged sickle cells in the filtration apparatus was used to evaluate drug effects. Compared to the nontreated control, etidronate disodium [disodium dihydrogen (1-hydroxyethylidene)diphosphonate] reduced the trapping of sickled cells at low concentrations and increased trapping at high concentrations. These results indicate that etidronate disodium alters the deformability of sickled erythrocytes.