POTASSIUM AND SODIUM OF RED BLOOD CELLS IN SICKLE CELL ANEMIA 1

Abstract

Red blood cells from 6 patients with sickle cell anemia were found to lose K and gain Na when incubated, in vitro, at 37[degree]C in the absence of O2. This process began immediately after de-oxygenation and continued for at least 24 hrs. K loss and Na gain did not occur in oxygenated sickle cell anemia red cells or in oxygenated or de-oxygenated normal human red cells. After 0.5 hr. of deoxygenation, K-Na exchange in sickle cell anemia red cells could be reversed by re-oxygenation. De-oxygenated sickle cell anemia red cells did not lose K and gain Na if sickling was prevented by pre-exposure to CO.