Using a wide range of different physical and chemical methods, it was found that the oxidative stress caused by addition of hydrogen peroxide to the incubation medium has a significant effect on the conformation of haematoporphyrin, influencing the oxygen-binding properties of haemoglobin in red blood cells. Morphofunctional characteristics of red blood cells change; in particular, we have observed the transformation of erythrocytes, their transition into echinocytes. In erythrocytes, in response to increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) antioxidant enzymes become active. The use of natural antioxidants (β-carotene and resveratrol) works towards reducting the level of oxidative processes. Resveratrol has the greatest antioxidant effect.

The composition and condition of membrane lipids, the morphology of erythrocytes, and hemoglobin distribution were explored with the help of laser interference microscopy (LIM) and Raman spectroscopy. It is shown that patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have significant changes in the composition of their phospholipids and the fatty acids of membrane lipids. Furthermore, the microviscosity of the membranes and morphology of the erythrocytes are altered causing disordered oxygen transport by hemoglobin. Basic therapy carried out with the use of antiaggregants, statins, antianginals, beta-blockers, and calcium antagonists does not help to recover the morphofunctional properties of erythrocytes. Based on the results the authors assume that, for the relief of the ischemic crisis and further therapeutic treatment, it is necessary to include, in addition to cardiovascular disease medicines, medication that increases the ability of erythrocytes' hemoglobin to transport oxygen to the tissues. We assume that the use of LIM and Raman spectroscopy is advisable for early diagnosis of changes in the structure and functional state of erythrocytes when cardiovascular diseases develop.

The present paper explores the role of erythrocytes in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases. The state of erythrocytes, their ionic composition and structure, and properties of erythrocytes hemoglobin were studied by using laser interference microscopy, Raman scattering spectroscopy, and capillary electrophoresis. In patients suffering from vascular disorders we identified statistically significant changes in the shape of erythrocytes, their ionic composition, and redistribution of hemoglobin throughout cells.

We investigated human blood erythrocytes under oxidative stress in vitro and established a correlation between composition and state of lipids and changes in erythrocytes structure under induced oxidative stress. These changes may serve as an indicator of not only the erythrocyte state but of systemic processes that occur at the level of the whole organism, including various pathologies as well. We found that a pyrimidine derivative xymedon used in the present study is an effective inhibitor of oxidative processes. Xymedon may be useful as an antioxidant for preserving the structural and functional characteristics of the erythrocytes in the treatment of organisms exposed to physical and toxic factors causing oxidative stress.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the composition and state of erythrocytic lipids and oxygen-binding properties of erythrocyte haemoglobin-derived haematoporphyrin under hypoxia. The results from this study showed that hypoxia causes a profound change in the composition of the lipids that form the bilayer of erythrocyte membranes, as well as in the functional characteristics of erythrocytes. The detected changes correlate with morphological reconstruction of erythrocytes and, consequently, affect the oxygen-transport properties of erythrocytes. The obtained results showed that the lipid phase plays an important role in the functioning of erythrocytes in health as well as in event of development of ischemic heart disease and other pathological processes that accompany hypoxia.