Abstract
A role of free radical scavenging for erythrocytes has previously been demonstrated, which is additional to their established role of gas exchange. In carrying out this role, erythrocytes become damaged by oxidation, which consumes endogenous reducing substances. It was therefore proposed that there exists a link between erythrocyte metabolism (particularly redox metabolism) and erythro-cyte shape and that both of these should be related to erythrocyte deformability. To look for evidence of oxidative damage in vivo, the erythrocytes were assessed for reduced glutathione (GSH), malondial-dehyde (MDA), methaemoglobin (metHb) and 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid (2,3-DPG) in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and healthy control subjects. Full blood counts, serum vitamin B12, erythrocyte folate, serum ferritin, serum iron, serum iron binding capacity and erythrocyte magnesium were also performed on all samples. Patients with RA had increased 2,3-DPG, GSH and metHb when compared with the control group as well as the expected decreased haemoglobin, haematocrit, and serum iron. There was evidence of oxidative damage in CFS with 2,3-DPG metHb and MDA increased in this group. An increase in GSH could also be demonstrated in a sub-group of the CFS patients. This damage may explain the shape changes (presumably accompanied by increased rigidity) that have been reported in erythrocytes in patients suffering from CFS and suggests a role for free radicals in the pathogenesis of CFS.