Clinical Studies on Glucose Metabolism via the Pentose Phosphate Pathway in Human Erythrocytes.

Glucose metabolism via the pentose phosphate pathway was studied by measuring accelerated 02 uptake of human erythrocytes in the presence of methylene blue. Erythrocyte 02 uptake was independent of age in 67 normal patients. Erythrocyte 02 uptake was increased in pernicious anemia in relapse and in 5 of 6 jaundiced patients but was normal in pernicious anemia in remission and in 20 cases of malignancies of various types. In the latter cases there was no correlation between erythrocyte 02 uptake and hemoglobin content or reticulocyte count.