Red-cell metabolism in patients with iron deficiency.

18 components of metabolism were determined in the red cells of iron-deficient patients and data were expressed per 10(12) red cells to avoid the complicating effects of hypochromia and microcytosis. Glucose consumption, AMP and ATP, glycolytic intermediates except 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), red-cell Na+ and the net passive leakage of Na+ and K+ at 4 degrees C were all normal. Creatine, 6-phospho-D-gluconate: NADP oxidoreductase (6PGD) activity and fresh red-cell K+ were raised, suggestive of a young cell population. However, ATP: D-fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (PFK) activity and ADP were low. An elevated 2,3-DPG level was attributable to the anaemia present but the somewhat raised PEP level is unexplained. It is concluded that red cells in iron deficiency show some characteristics of a young cell population; in other respects they appear normal, but in containing a low PFK activity they are abnormal.