LYSOLECITHIN AND HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LYSOLECITHIN PRODUCTION IN THE DIFFERENTIATION OF CIRCULATING AND STAGNANT BLOOD 1

Abstract

A quantitative method is described for detn. of the lysolecithin content in relatively small amts. in peripheral blood of dogs and normal human beings. It could be demonstrated that the lysolecithin content could be increased 2 to 8 times by incubating unmoved blood for several hrs. but that moving the blood during incubation prevented this increase due to the fact that moving inactivated the lysin. Circulating (moved) blood contains less lysolecithin than stagnant blood. To relate circulation of blood to its lysolecithin production the lysolecithin quotient [image] was detd. Normal peripheral blood has a LLQ always a fraction of 1. In stagnant blood the LLQ is 1. Splenic vein blood in dogs has a LLQ of 1 indicating the presence of stored blood coming from the spleen and demonstrating increased lysin production in splenic reservoir blood. LLQ from varicose vein blood presenting an area of very sluggish circulation was likewise 1. The LLQ from hepatic vein blood was the same as in peripheral blood, thus indicating a difference in the mechanism of storage of blood of the liver and of the spleen. No difference in the lysin content and LLQ in the blood of patients with congenital hemolytic anemia as compared with that of normal persons was found. The significance of lysin as the physiological hemolysin involved in the mechanism of normal blood destruction by increased production in splenic reservoir blood is not conclusive. It is very unlikely that this lysin can be regarded as responsible for the increased blood destruction in con-gential hemolytic anemia.