Red cell nucleotide levels in patients with thalassaemia, iron deficiency, and renal failure

Red cell nucleotides, predominantly adenine nucleotides, were measured spectrophotometrically in normal individuals and in patients with iron deficiency, beta thalassaemia and renal failure following dialysis or transplantation. There was a significant correlation between the mean red cell haemoglobin (MCH) or the mean cell volume (MCV) and the nucleotide levels in red cells (P less than 0.001). Patients with beta thalassaemia did not have increased nucleotide levels compared to red cells having the same MCH or MCV. Patients with renal failure had significantly increased levels of nucleotides compared to normal individuals, and this level remained high after renal dialysis but returned to normal following renal transplantation.