Averaged osmotic deformability profiles of cell age-matched RBCs with spectrin/ankyrin and band 3 deficiency from unsplenectomized and splenectomized patients.

RBCs were separated on Percoll density gradients. RBC density fractions were isolated, and ektacytometry was performed on 4 to 5 fractions from each patient. RBC membranes were isolated from all fractions, and the ratio of band 4.1a to 4.1b was determined. Averaged osmotic deformability profiles of RBCs with a comparable 4.1a/4.1b ratio from unsplenectomized and splenectomized patients in both types of deficiencies were calculated for each group of patients, as outlined. Averaged deformability profiles ± 1 SD are given for all types of RBCs if more than 2 samples were studied. In the deformability profile of spectrin/ankyrin-deficient RBCs from unsplenectomized patients (n = 2), minimal and maximal values are represented by error bars. The profiles for spectrin/ankyrin-deficient HS are depicted by solid heavy curves in gray for unsplenectomized and in black for splenectomized patients. The profiles for band 3–deficient HS are shown by dashed heavy curves in gray for unsplenectomized and in black for splenectomized patients. Data from healthy controls are shown by a fine line in black. The band 4.1a/4.1b ratio was 0.55 in unsplenectomized spectrin/ankyrin-deficient patients (n = 2), 0.90 ± 0.01 in splenectomized patients (n = 4), 1.08 ± 0.06 in unsplenectomized band 3–deficient patients (n = 5), 1.05 ± 0.17 in splenectomized patients (n = 5), and 0.90 ± 0.14 (n = 3) in healthy controls.