Effects of in Vivo Hyperoxia on Erythrocytes. II. Hemolysis in a Human after Exposure to Oxygen under High Pressure

During the course of an investigation of the effects of in vivo hyperoxia on erythrocytes, one patient developed hemolytic anemia following a relatively brief exposure to oxygen under high pressure. Special studies carried out on his erythrocytes revealed them to be normal in terms of the usual oxido-reduction transformation system components. However, his cells did demonstrate an unusual in vitro sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide and formed unusually high levels of lipid peroxides during incubation with hydrogen peroxide. The similarities between his erythrocytes and those from vitamin E-deficient rodents were noted and the implications of these findings in terms of mechanisms for hyperoxic hemolysis were discussed.