[Transport of ions into human erythrocytes in various forms of hemolytic anemia: a correlation analysis].

The activity of Na+, K(+)-ATPase (ouabain-inhibited 86Rb influx), Na+, K+ cotransport (ouabain-insensitive furosemide-inhibited 86Rb or 22Na influx), Na+/Na+ exchange (ouabain-insensitive phloretin-inhibited 22Na influx) and Na+/Li+ exchange (ouabain-insensitive Na0(+)-depended Li+ efflux) as well as the passive permeability of the erythrocyte membrane for Na+, K+ and Li+ have been studied in patients with primary (microspherocytosis, hemoglobinopathy) and secondary (autoimmune) hemolytic anemia. The activities of the Na+, K(+)-pump and Na+, K(+)-cotransport were increased in patients with microspherocytosis-by 45% and 70%, respectively. In patients with hemoglobinopathy the Na+/Li+ exchange and passive permeability for K+ were increased 2-3-fold in comparison with the control with the control group. The increased passive permeability for K+ may partly be due to the increased K+, Cl(-)-cotransport. In patients with autoimmune anemia the 3-fold increase in the passive permeability for monovalent cations and the 2-fold increased activity of Na+, K+ cotransport were found. There was no significant correlation between the Na+/Na+ and Na+/Li+ exchange which suggests that the cellular mechanisms of activity control in those ion transport systems differ essentially. No correlation was found between the passive permeability for Na+ and K+ either. These data indicate that simple diffusion (leakage) is not the only pathway for the passive permeability of the erythrocyte membrane for monovalent cations.