Glutathione Content of Blood

The Concentration of Glutathione in the Erythrocytes of Patients with Rheumatic Fever

“…There is agreement that in secondary anemia, although the total glutathione concentration in the whole blood is reduced, it is increased in the erythrocyte fraction (6,23,27,28,29,30,31), while the converse is demonstrable in polycythemia (28,30). In pernicious anemia (6), myelogenous leukemia (28,29), Addison's disease (29), and phenylhydrazine poisoning (6,27), high concentrations of glutathione in the erythrocytes have been reported.…”

“…In pernicious anemia (6), myelogenous leukemia (28,29), Addison's disease (29), and phenylhydrazine poisoning (6,27), high concentrations of glutathione in the erythrocytes have been reported. In other diseases and conditions, including neoplasms, diabetes, pregnancy, toxemias of pregnancy, nephritis, gallstones, gout, pulmonary tuberculosis, mental diseases, obesity, pneumonia, cystinuria, myxoedema, hypertension, asthma, liver damage, grippe, and chronic arthritis (21,22,28,29,30,31,32,33), characteristic alterations in the reduced glutathione content of the new blood have usually not been found. Low values have been reported, however, in hyperthyroidism (22), diabetes (31,34), and obstructive jaundice (31).…”

“…Low values have been reported, however, in hyperthyroidism (22), diabetes (31,34), and obstructive jaundice (31). The levels of glutathione in the blood are very stable (35,36) and but slightly affected by such physiological factors as age (36), sex, race (30), or the taking of food (6, 28), but reduction of oxygen tension of the respired air results in an increase in the reduced glutathione with a decrease in the oxidized fraction (6,26,27). There are conflicting reports on the effect of exercise (6,8,21,28).…”

“…In order to minimize the influence of incidental factors said to affect the blood glutathione level (28,30,34), those who had not been at rest in bed for several days or who suffered any degree of cardiac decompensation were excluded from the series. In febrile patients, the total glutathione concentration in the erythrocytes varied from 60.1 to 127.4 mg. per 100 cc.…”

“…There are conflicting reports on the effect of exercise (6,8,21,28). Usually, it is found that cardiac decompensation is without influence either upon the total amount of glutathione in the erythrocytes or upon the partition between oxidized and reduced fractions (28,30,34), although characteristic changes (21,34,38) have been described. Similarly, the presence of a fever is reported as being without effect (30,37) or causing increase in the total glutathione (39,40).…”