ExtractErythrocyte sodium transport was studied in five families of patients with hereditary spheroeytosis (HS). Values for ouabain-insensitive sodium efilux in the group with HS (mean = 19.9% of cellular sodium-22/hr, so = ±2.7) were significantly greater (P < 0.001) than those found in the normal group (mean = 13.8%, SD = ±2.7). No clinical evidence of HS was found in the parents; however, 4 of the 10 parents had ouabain-insensitive erythrocyte sodium-22 efilux rates in the HS range in comparison to 3 of 30 control subjects, a statistically significant difference (x ! = 4.67; P < 0.05).
Speculation