Decreased water permeability of erythrocyte membranes in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The water proton relaxation times of erythrocytes (T'2a) from 15 Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients and age-matched controls have been determined by a pulse nuclear magnetic resonance technique. Statistically significant higher values of T'2a were noted for the DMD erythrocytes, both in the presence or absence of p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate, a potent inhibitor of water diffusion through erythrocyte membrane. As the values of T'2a are inversely related to the water permeability, the results indicate a decreased permeability of erythrocyte membrane in DMD. The findings are discussed in relation to the molecular mechanisms of water diffusion across erythrocyte membrane and in regard to the general problem of membrane abnormalities in DMD.