Haemolysis in liver disease: relationship to erythrocyte membrane function, serum bilirubin concentration and plasma electrolyte disturbances.

The pathogenesis of the mild to moderate haemolysis that is almost universal in patients with liver disease was investigated to determine if it was related to dysfunction of the red blood cell (RBC) membrane resulting from abnormalities in plasma electrolyte, urea or bilirubin concentrations. Thirty-nine patients with various forms of liver disease were investigated as well as six with miscellaneous diseases associated with plasma electrolyte disturbance. RBC membrane permeability was measured by the rate of 22Na influx. The results showed that the shortened RBC survival in liver disease is not related to morphological changes in the RBC or altered membrane integrity as measured by osmotic fragility, mechanical fragility, autohaemolysis, membrane ATP and membrane permeability.