Consequences of moderate hypoxia on red cell glycolytic metabolism in polycythemia rubra vera

Red blood cell metabolism was studied in male patients with polycythemia rubra vera (Vaquez disease) and compared to a reference sample of 74 healthy adults. A total of seventeen enzyme activities and seventeen metabolite concentrations were determined. In addition to the modifications of the hematological parameters among the polycytemic patients significant variations were detected: a decreased content of hemoglobin in the cells; significantly decreased levels of ATP, ADP and AMP associated to an accelerated turn over of these metabolites; an acceleration of the glycolytic pathway associated with an increase of the energetic charge and levels of 2-3BPG and G1-6BP. In polycythemia rubra vera patients, the modifications of the hematological and biochemical parameters were compared to previous results obtained in high altitude residents (adaptative hypoxia) and in red cells belonging to new borns.