Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria. Evidence of Defect of Red Cell Stroma Manifested by Abnormalities of Lipids

Abstract

Extracted lipids from the red cells of 2 patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria were analyzed for cholesterol, unsaturated and saturated fatty acids. The ratios of the various lipids were established and the values were related to the total lipids and also to the surface area of the red cells. Compared with normal red cells the PNH cells showed an increased concentration of arachidonic and pentaenoic acids and a decreased concentration of oleic acid. Results suggest that the lipid pattern of the lipoproteins in the stroma of PNH cells is abnormal.