Cation transport in erythrocytes of patients with renal failure.

Na+, K+-ATPase activity in erythrocytes (RBC) has been assessed indirectly by the 86Rb uptake method in 10 patients with acute renal failure (ARF), 11 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) on haemodialysis and 13 patients treated by kidney transplantation, and compared to age-matched healthy controls. In each patients, the sensitivity of 86Rb uptake to digoxin (IC50) has been measured. Na+, K+-ATPase activity was decreased in patients with ARF and in patients with CRF but not in transplanted patients. IC50 was lowered in transplanted patients. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms of the changes in Na+, K+-ATPase activity in RBC of patients with renal failure.