Erythrocyte Glycolysis in Erythroblastotic Newborns: Erythrocyte Glycolysis Also in Rh-Positive Red Cells Coated with Anti-D Antibodies

In a previous communication, it was reported1that newborn infants with erythroblastosis due to Rh incompatibility have a significantly reduced O2-carrying capacity as compared with normal controls. This effect of Rh-antibodies on Rh-positive red cells was reproduced in artificial mixtures of antigen plus antibody in vitro.2We speculated then about the possible mechanism of this effect. The purpose of the present study is to try to elucidate further this effect. It has been known for many years that most of the glycolytic activity of whole blood, in vitro, is due to erythrocyte metabolism. Because a disturbance of such glycolysis might reveal other evidence of metabolic defect in the erythrocytes coated with anti-Rh antibodies, the following studies were undertaken: Measurement of rate of glycolysis in blood drawn from 10 infants with erythroblastosis due to Rh incompatibility (with a positive Coombs test) compared with blood from 10