Erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and adenosine triphosphate in polycythaemia vera.

Erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were measured in 16 patients with polycythaemia vera and found to be normal. The determination of erythrocyte organic phosphate concentration can be helpful in the differential diagnosis of different types of polycythaemia due to the lack of 2,3-DPG rise in patients with polycythaemia vera, as compared to the 2,3-DPG increase usually observed in patients with secondary polycythaemia.