Phosphate Partition in the Erythrocytes of Normal Newborn Infants and Infants with Erythroblastosis Fetalis. IV. Ion Exchange Chromatography

Ion exchange chromatography was used to study perchloric acid extracts of the erythrocytes from the cord blood of normal infants and infants with erythroblastosis fetalis due to anti-D and, for comparison, the red blood cells of adults. Adenosine triphosphate, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and the total phosphates were found to be highest in the infants with the most severe form of erythroblastosis fetalis. Evidence is given to show that these findings are not related to the relative immaturity of the erythrocytes in hemolytic discase of the newborn. No changes could be demonstrated in the partition of the intraerythrocytic phosphates in a patient with pernicious anemia before B₁₂ therapy and at the height of the reticulocyte response. It is suggested that the high level of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate found in the erythrocytes in hemolytic disease due to anti-D may be due to alterations in the Embden-Meyerhof glycolytic pathway. The nature of the upheaval is not clear at present.