Abnormalities in adenosine triphosphatase of the erythrocyte membrane in iron deficiency anaemia.

During iron deficiency rat and human erythrocyte membrane enzyme activities (Total ATPase and Ouabainsensitive Na+.K+ ATPase) showed significant (P < 0.001) decrease. The influence of iron deficiency on erythrocyte Na+ and K+ was also studied in rats and humans. The former parameter showed a significant (P < 0.01) increase while the latter showed a downward trend. Plasma Fe and Total Iron Binding capacity (TIBC) in iron deficiency varied significantly (P < 0.05) from normal values. These results suggest a defect in erythrocyte membrane function and a possible potentiating effect of intracellular Na+, plasma Fe and TIBC on ATPase activity in iron deficiency. Values obtained for rats and humans showed differences in the activities of membrane ATPase in iron deficiency anaemia.