Modulation of ouabain sensitive sodium potassium pump of erythrocytes from patients with chronic renal failure: role of acute hemodialysis.

Significantly higher levels of plasma urea creatinine and potassium were observed in patients with renal failure compared to normal controls. The RBC sodium concentration was raised whereas the RBC potassium concentration was decreased in chronic renal failure. These alterations in the RBC Na+ and K+ concentrations were associated with decrease in ouabain sensitive sodium efflux rate and ouabain sensitive sodium efflux rate constant. However, there was no significant impact of acute hemodialysis on the intracellular electrolytes levels, ouabain sensitive sodium efflux rate and ouabain sensitive sodium efflux rate constant. These findings suggest an intrinsic alteration in the transport capacity of Na(+)-K+ pump which could account for the rise in intracellular sodium and fall in intracellular potassium content in the RBCs of chronic renal failure patients.