What are Rouleaux?

Rouleaux are stacks or aggregations of red blood cells (RBCs) that form because of the unique discoid shape of the cells in vertebrates. The flat surface of the discoid RBCs gives them a large surface area to make contact with and stick to each other; thus forming a rouleau. They occur when the plasma protein concentration is high, and, because of them, the ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is also increased. This is a nonspecific indicator of the presence of disease.

Acute-phase proteins, particularly fibrinogen, interact with sialic acid on the surface of RBCs to facilitate the formation of rouleaux. An increase in the ratio of RBCs to plasma volume, as seen in the setting of polycythemia and hypovolemia, decreases rouleaux formation and decreases sedimentation. Rouleaux formation is retarded by albumin proteins.

It will restrict the flow of blood throughout the body. After all, capillaries can only accept free-flowing singular and independent red blood cells. The aggregations, also known as "clumping," form as an allergic reaction to certain antibiotics and not necessarily because of disease.

Conditions that cause rouleaux formation include infections, multiple myeloma, connective tissue disorder, Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, cancers and inflammatory disorders. It also occurs in diabetes mellitus and is one of the causative factors for microvascular occlusion in diabetic retinopathy.