Abstract
Summary
Quantitative copper determinations of erythrocyte fractions obtained by ultracentrifugation of erythrocyte homogenates from 105- persons were made by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Elevated copper levels were demonstrated in the particulate fraction of erythrocytes of 16 patients with sickle cell anemia (Hb SS), 30 patients with sickle cell trait (Hb AS), 14 patients with hemoglobin C trait (Hb AC), and 5 patients with hemoglobin SC, as compared to similar fractions from 40 normal persons (Hb AA). Erythrocytes from sickle cell anemia patients contained sedimentable copper levels approximately twice that of normal controls. The sedimentable copper values from sickle cell trait were 1.5 times that of normal cells. The significance of these findings is discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.