The sensitivity of Na+, K+ ATPase as an indicator of blood diseases.

BACKGROUND: Blood-related hereditary diseases are widespread in Eastern and SouthWestern regions of Saudi Arabia until recently. In this study, we used Na+, K+ATPase as an enzymatic indicator for the diagnosis of the diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Individuals with different blood diseases (iron deficiency (n=13), anemia (n=14), thalassemia (n=16) and sickle cell anemia (n=12) were studied for Na+, K+-ATPase activity in the plasma membrane of red blood cell and compared with those of the healthy ones (n=20) of the same age and gender living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: There was a significant elevation in the specific activity of Na+, K+ATPase in individuals with anemia compared with those of control (0.0094 + 0.001 nmol / mg protein/min versus 0.0061 ± 0.001). On the other hand, there was a significant reduction in enzyme activity in thalassemia (0.0028 ± 0.002 nmol / mg protein/min) and sickle cell anemia cases (0.0042 ±0.001 nmol / mg protein/min) compared to the control group. The cut off value for Na+, K+ATPase activity is 0.005 µmol Pi/min-showing 94% sensitivity and 93% specificity for the differentiation of blood abnormality. CONCLUSION: It can be recommended that the activity of Na+, K+-ATPase can be used for the diagnosis of individuals with blood diseases/disorders.

Changes in erythrocyte ATPase activity under different pathological conditions.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that Na+-K+ ATPase activity was altered in disrupted red blood cell membranes and this enzyme is believed to be the site of active transport of Na+ and K+ in intact red blood cells. The enzyme is often referred to as Na+-K+ pump because it pumps Na+ out and K+ into the cell against gradients with the concomitant hydrolysis of intracellular ATP. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to find out the possibility of using Na+-K+-ATPase activity as a biomarker for the diagnosis of individuals with different physiological conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The activity of Na+-K+ ATPase was determined in blood samples collected from different pathological and physiological conditions such as pregnancy, smoking, diabetes and renal dysfunction compared with healthy subjects matched for age and sex. RESULTS: The Na+-K+ ATPase activity in pregnancy (0.094 ± 0.0051 µM Pi/min. mg protein), smoking (0.064 ± 0.0011 µM), diabetes (0.047 µM 0.002 µM) and kidney disease (0.069 ± 0.0014 µM) was higher compared to the measurements in healthy individuals (0.0081 ± 0.0031 µM). CONCLUSION: Na+-K+ATPase specific activity is a biomarker for the diagnosis of individuals with different physiological diseases.