Erythrocyte adenosine triphosphate and 2,3 diphosphoglycerate after human renal transplantation: Dissociation from hypophosphataemia

Erythrocyte 2,3 diphosphoglycerate (2,3 DPG) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were determined in normal individuals, uremic patients on chronic hemodialysis and patients who underwent renal transplantation, and correlated with plasma phosphate and arterial blood pH. Significant increases in the 2,3 DPG and ATP content were found in the uremic patients and these persisted after transplantation in spite of marked hypophosphatemia. No correlation was established with plasma phosphate for either of the compounds but 2,3 DPG had a significant correlation with arterial blood pH. Normal values for ATP and 2,3 DPG were observed in post transplant patients with normal hematological values. The high amounts of erythrocyte 2,3 DPG and ATP in the early post transplant period are independent of the circulating concentration of inorganic phosphate, and might represent the response of erythrocyte glycolysis to changing arterial blood pH.