Elemental analysis of erythrocytes in patients with chronic liver diseases positive for hepatitis C virus

The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between elemental changes in erythrocytes and hepatogenous anemia. Five chronic hepatitis C, five liver cirrhosis (HCV positive) and three healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Using in-air micro-PIXE, we determined that K rods formed small nodule and Cl rods distributed diffusely in all over erythrocytes, resulting in disappearance of the donut-like pattern of erythrocytes. These findings may reect the alternation of ery- throcyte membrane structures. Fe dots were divided into two to four compartments in erythrocytes of control group, and the similar distribution of Fe rods was shown in those of chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. Na concentrations analyzed by in-vacuum PIXE were significantly higher in liver cirrhosis than in chronic hepatitis and control, possibly because of the disturbance of Na–K pump. Present study suggests that the alternation of erythrocyte membrane and Na–K pump failure may participate in hepatogenous anemia accompanied with liver cirrhosis.