Lysis of red blood cells in some haemolytic anaemias--the lytic effect of agkistrodon piscivorus venom in vitro.

The lysis of red blood cells induced by the Agkistrodon piscivorus venom (APV) in vitro in the presence and/or in the absence of plasma was examined in autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA), hereditary spherocytosis (HS) and paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH). Virtually haemolysis did not differ from that of normals in AIHA, it was slightly increased in HS and significantly higher in PNH, however, only in the presence of autologous or normal homologous plasma. The mechanism of PNH blood cells lysis which is probably related to the activation of the third complement component is discussed.