Phospholipid composition of blood plasma, erythrocytes, and "ghosts" in sickle cell disease

We examined the phospholipid composition of the plasma, of whole erythrocytes, and of "ghosts" of the erythrocytes from healthy volunteers, patients with sickle cell disease without crisis, and such patients in crisis, and found that phosphatidylglycerol in the plasma and "ghosts" was very significantly increased in sickle cell crisis but not in the absence of crisis. The significance of these findings is discussed.