Red cell carbohydrate metabolism in primary refractory anemias

Abstract

In patients with primary refractory anemia, red cell lactate formation, oxygen consumption in the presence of methylene blue, the content of adenosinetriphosphate, adenosinediphosphate, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, inorganic phosphate, reduced glutathione, the stability of reduced glutathione and the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were investigated. The following differences were observed between patients with normal or hyperplastic and with hypo- or aplastic bone marrow: In the patients with normal or hyperplastic bone marrow, lactate formation, oxygen consumption in the presence of methylene blue, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity were significantly higher. In the patients with hypoplastic and aplastic bone marrow, lactate formation and the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were slightly decreased and oxygen consumption in the presence of methylene blue was within the normal range. Adenosinetriphosphate and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate content was increased in both groups of patients. The levels of inorganic phosphate, reduced glutathione and the stability of reduced glutathione were not significantly changed. Some evidence is given that these changes are due mainly to the differences in mean red cell age in both groups.