SODIUM TRANSPORT ACROSS THE SURFACE MEMBRANE OF RED BLOOD CELLS IN HEREDITARY SPHEROCYTOSIS 1

Abstract

In vitro Na transport rates were determined for the red cells of 10 splenectomized patients with hereditary spherocytosis (HS), and 4 normal controls. The method employed utilized addition of Na22 to whole heparinized blood, and the time course of entry of isotope into the red cells was followed. The transport rates for HS cells ranged from high normal to considerably elevated values. Though this and other evidence indicates that the surface membranes of HS erythrocytes function abnormally, the precise mechanisms leading to the shortened survival of these cells in non-splenectomized patients are not known.