Human erythrocytic calcium concentration in hemolytic anemia.

In order to elucidate the role of the Ca2+ accumulation in hemolytic process, erythrocytic calcium concentration has been studied by atomic absorption spectroscopy in 18 cases of congenital hemolytic anemias and in 19 cases of acquired auto-immune hemolysis. An increased erythrocytic Ca2+ level was observed in some, but not in all, congenital (10 cases) or acquired (6 cases) hemolytic anemias. It seems that the loss in erythrocytic deformability induced by calcium accumulation probably was not the common state leading to hemolysis.