Microcalorimetric measurements of heat production in erythrocytes of patients with liver diseases.

Erythrocyte metabolic activity has been investigated in 12 patients with severe liver disease. The erythrocyte resting heat effect value has been found to be 25% higher than normal (P less than 0.005). A normal value was obtained when heat effect was measured under maximal stimulation with 10(-4) M methylene blue (MB). Glucose consumption was found to be normal, both in unstimulated and methylene blue stimulated erythrocytes. The present calorimetric results do not give support to the hypothesis that haemolytic anaemia in patients with liver disease is related to decreased activity of the pentose phosphate pathway.