Human Red Cell Sodium and Potassium in Metabolic Alkalosis

Abstract

Erythrocyte sodium and potassium was studied in 26 patients with metabolic alkalosis. Sodium accumulated in red cells during alkalosis. Red cell potassium increased when the plasma concentration of potassium was normal but decreased when the alkalosis was complicated by low extracellular potassium. Seven of the patients were uremic, but azotemia could not explain the accumulation of sodium in the red cells. The changes of sodium and potassium content in erythrocytes from alkalotic patients are interpreted in the light of in vitro examinations of the effect of bicarbonate ions on the cation permeability of human erythrocytes.

Key Words:

• Erythrocyte potassium
• erythrocyte sodium
• metabolic alkalosis
• plasma bicarbonate
• plasma creatinine
• plasma potassium
• red cell potassium permeability
• red cell sodium permeability
• uremia