Fatalities in myasthenia gravis; a review of 39 cases with 26 autopsies.

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Hypoxemia in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has been shown to be a risk factor for death. One of the mechanisms of hypoxemia progression has associated with red blood cells (RBCs) disorders. <b>Aim and objectives:</b> The aim of the present work was to determine metabolic perturbations in RBCs from CAP patients. Control subjects were 32 healthy volunteers without any medication. 34 patients with CAP were on hospitalization and inspection. <b>Methods:</b> The concentration of membrane-bounded hemoglobin was measured in RBCs. Sorption property of RBCs was measured using methylene blue. High erythrocyte membrane permeability was associated with increased methylene blue sorption, which correlated with erythrocyte damage. <b>Results:</b> Our results showed the increase in sorption capacity of RBCs (by 24%, p &lt; 0.05) in comparison with healthy ones. The level of membrane-bounded hemoglobin in RBCs from CAP patients was higher than in control samples (by 47%, p&lt;0.05). <b>Conclusions:</b> Evaluation of sorption capacity of RBCs is considered as indicator of membrane disorders. We surmised that increasing of RBCs sorption property may be connected with low activity NADPH methemoglobin reductase. The increasing membrane-bounded hemoglobin affects RBCs membrane and cytoskeleton proteins disorganization, and effects the changing of RBCs transporting function. Taken together those alterations promote hypoxemia progression.