Water movement in red cells from burned patients. Its relationship to sodium retention and red cell filtrability

Nine burned patients were investigated. Urinary sodium retention was associated with low red cell water and reduced red cell filtrability. The red cells from patients who recovered lost less water than normal cells when suspended in hypertonic NaCl solution but the proportionality of water loss or gain found for normal cells was maintained. The red cells from fatally burned patients lost proportional behaviour in hypertonic or hypotonic media. The abnormalities are not related to the area of the burn and may be the result of varying therapy. The monitoring of red cell water and water movement under tonicity stress is a convenient measure of the metabolic state of the cell.