This paper presents the results of analyses of the data and information provided by 632 Americans with chronic disorders in their applications/or red blood cell shape analyses. Possibly as a manifestation of local usage, seven different diagnostic categories were represented while more than 100 cases were undiagnosed.

Irrespective of diagnostic category, red cell shape analyses showed the majority had high values for flat cells while about 4% had increased cup forms. As both cup forms and flat cells are poorly deformable cell types they would reduce the rate of blood flow in small, capillaries thus reducing the rate of delivery of oxygen and nutrient substrates to the tissues.

Analyses of the symptoms recorded, in terms of tissue dysfunction revealed overall similarities in regions of dysfunction such as in muscles or the central nervous system.

Thus, the information provided by patients with differently named disorders was highly suggestive of a common causation. The common factor could be the altered blood rheology associated with changed red cell shape populations.

The findings indicate a need for an investigation of possible changes in blood rheology in chronic disorders as this could lead to the discovery of effective treatments.