Red blood cell sodium and potassium fluxes in psoriatic patients.

Psoriasis might be a widespread membrane disorder. Therefore, the red blood cell sodium, potassium and lithium outward fluxes (through Na-K-ATPase, Na-K-Cl co-transport, Li-Na countertransport and passive permeability), as well as the Na and K content, were studied in 31 psoriatic patients and 23 normal controls. A significant increase in intracellular potassium content, in the maximal velocity of the Na-K ATPase and of Na-K-Cl co-transport as well as in the outward passive permeability for Na were found in the psoriatic patients compared with controls. On the contrary, no differences were observed in sodium content, Li-Na countertransport and passive potassium permeability between the two groups. These results are compatible with a selective increase in inward, as well as outward, membrane permeability to sodium, which is compensated for by increased activity of the Na-K pump, and of the outward Na-K-Cl cotransport with a secondarily increased erythrocyte potassium content. They indicate that the red blood cell might be a useful model for the study of membrane transport in psoriatics.