Ultrastructural changes in erythrocytes and thrombocytes in patients with severe thermal burns of the skin in the burn shock period

The data obtained show that a great amount of deformed red blood cells, i.e. ovalocytes, cristate-shaped cells appear in the peripheral blood of patients with severe cutaneous burns during shock. In the most severe shocks a dramatic increase in degenerative forms of red blood cells in the blood has been observed. These are spheroids and spheroechynocytes frequently with impaired matrix structure. A correlation has been established between the progressing shock severity and the number of degenerative forms of red blood cells in the blood. Reversible changes of platelet fine structure were also noted.