Erythrocyte ATP in Duchenne dystrophy: effects of ouabain and propranolol.

The ATP and lactate contents of erythrocytes from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) were measured before and after incubation with or without glucose plus either ouabain or propranolol. Samples from patients and controls were obtained at almost the same time on the same day and processed simultaneously. The erythrocyte ATP content differed in adults and children, but there was no difference between DMD patients and age-matched controls. Ouabain suppressed, and propranolol enhanced, the changes of ATP and lactate, to the same extent in patients and in controls. We found no gross abnormalities in generation and utilization of ATP in erythrocytes in DMD, and the response to ouabain or propranolol appeared normal.