The oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve in patients with familial hyperchylomicronemia

In order to study the effect of marked chylomicronemia on red cell oxygen release, oxygen hemoglobin dissociation curves (ODC's) from zero to full saturation were determined on whole blood from three siblings with familial Type I hyperlipoproteinemia. In these cases the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin was markedly increased, with P50 act. pH varying between 22.1 and 17.7 mm. Hg (normal value, 27.3 mm. Hg; S.D., 1.3) and the Hill coefficient n reflecting the slope of the ODC was increased. The changes in the ODC's are thought to be secondary to the hyperchylomicronemia for the following reasons: (1) the change was minimized by incubating red cells from the patients in normal donor plasma; (2) normal red cells increased their oxygen affinity when incubated in lactescent plasma; (3) the change was not explainable by a decrease in red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate content or in arterial blood hydrogen ion concentration. Based on these findings a decreased erythrocyte oxygen release of one third can be hypothesized. The importance of this observation in relation to the symptomatology of clinical conditions complicating marked chylomicronemia is discussed.

Bone mineralization and bone mineral content in primary hyperparathyroidism

The degree of bone mineralization and the bone mineral content (BMC) was evaluated in 6 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. The degree of bone mineralization was estimated as the phosphorus/hydroxyproline ratio (P/Hypro) in bone biopsies; BMC was estimated by photon absorptiometry on both forearms. The mena values of both parameters were significantly lower than normal (P less than 0.001 for P/Hypro; P less than 0.02 for BMC). As no significant correlation was found between P/Hypro and BMC in hyperparathyroidism, the findings of low values of P/Hypro and of BMC in patients with elevated serum calcium point to primary hyperparathyroidism.

Hyperlipoproteinemia, diabetes, and oxygen affinity of hemoglobin

Oxyhemoglobin dissociation curves (ODC) were performed on blood from diabetic and nondiabetic subjects with and without hypertriglyceridemia. P50 at in vivo pH was slightly lower than normal in normolipemic diabetics (25.7 versus 26.6 mmHg, p less than 0.05), in spite of increased red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentration (15.4 versus 14.4 mumole/g Hg, p less than 0.025). P50 at in vivo pH in diabetics with moderately elevated very low density lipoproteins (VLDL)--Type IV hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP)--was likewise found to be slightly lower than normal (25.5 versus 26.6 mmHg, p less than 0.05). In contrast, diabetics with pronounced hyperlipemia due to accumulation of chylomicrons (type I HLP) or due to accumulation of chylomicrons (type I HLP) or due to accumulation of chylomicrons as well as VLDL (type V HLP) showed markedly increased hemoglobin--oxygen affinity (P50:21.1 versus 26.6 mmHg, p less than 0.001). The change in the ODC of normolipemic diabetics is considered to be an expresssion of the presence of an increased proportion of a hemoglobin fraction (Hb Alc) with increased oxygen affinity. The additional change in the ODC of the hyperlipemic patients is thought to be secondary to accumulation of triglyceride-rich particles for the following reasons: (1) a similar increase in oxygen affinity of hemoglobin was demonstrated in familial type I HLP of nondiabetic subjects; (2) normal red cells increased their oxygen affinity when incubated in lactescent plasma; (3) in both acquired types I and V HLP the disappearance of HLP was followed by a normalization of the ODC.

Effect of the diphosphonate EHDP on plasma inorganic phosphate and hemoglobin oxygen affinity of diabetic and healthy subjects

The effect of oral disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate, EHDP (20 mg kg-1 day-1) and placebo given for 28 days on plasma inorganic phosphate (Pi) red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and oxygen affinity of hemoglobin was evaluated in 14 insulin-treated diabetics and 5 healthy volunteers. EHDP significantly increased mean Pi (diabetics: 1.18 to 1.67 mmol/l, p less than 0.01, controls: 1.03 to 1.71 mmol/l, p less than 0.02) and P50 at in vivo pH of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve (diabetics: 25.4 to 26.6 mmHg, p less than 0.02; controls: 26.3 to 28.9 mmHg, p less than 0.02). Pi and P50 were correlated in both diabetics and in controls (p less than 0.05). 2,3-DPG increased when the diabetics were on EHDP (p less than 0.005). The study emphasizes the importance of Pi on red cell function and indicates that an elevation of Pi tends to counteract the defect in oxygen release capacity of the red cells in diabetic subjects.

Oxygen transport impairment in diabetes

Oxyhemoglobin dissociation curves (ODC) from zero to full saturation were developed from tests performed on whole blood from various groups of diabetic and nondiabetic healthy subjects. P50 at in-vivo pH was slightly but significantly lower than normal in ambulatory nonacidotic, uncomplicated juvenile diabetics (26.0 vs. 27.3 mm. Hg, P less than 0.001), despite increased red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) concentrations in diabetic erythrocytes (15.0 vs. 13.7 mumole/gm. Hb, P less than 0.001). This combination of changes is in keeping with the presence of increased proportions of hemoglobin AIc in insulin-treated diabetics. The position of the ODC was positively correlated with the 2,3-DPG concentration (P less than 0.01), which varied in response to fluctuations in plasma concentration of inorganic phosphate (Pi) (P less than 0.001). Optimal metabolic control may lead to a normalization of the ODC in association with increased concentrations of red cell 2,3-DPG and P. When the diabetes was uncontrolled, the ODC was usually unchanged during the acidotic phase because the lowered pH balanced the effect of diminished 2,3-DPG concentration on the ODC. After correction of acidosis, the disproportion between erythrocyte 2,3-DPG and pH became quite prominent, accompanied by a corresponding fall in P50 (21.0 vs. 26.1 mm. Hg, P less than 0.001). Following ketoacidosis, with a persistently lowered Pi, it may take up to one week for 2,3-DPG to return to an approximately normal level, and the P50 will be impaired for the same period. A diphosphonate (EHDP) known to enhance tubular phosphate reabsorption in man was given to nonacidotic insulin-treated diabetic and healthy volunteers for 28 days. It caused a significant increase in mean Pi and P50 in both healthy and diabetic subjects (r = 0.58, P less than 0.01). When a dietary supplement of dibasic calcium phosphate was given to diabetic subjects for 28 days, a significant increase in P50 also occurred (25.2 vs. 27.2 mm. Hg, P less than 0.001). It is recommended that the diabetes diet be supplemented by dibasic calcium phosphate to prevent the inhibitory effect of a low concentration of Pi on red cell oxygen delivery.

The oxygen transport system of red blood cells during diabetic ketoacidosis and recovery

Daily evaluations of 8 newly detected ketoacidotic diabetics showed the Bohr-effect of haemoglobin to be decreased by 50% while erythrocyte 2,3-DPG was decreased below 10 mumoles/g Hb. 2,3-DPG correlated strongly with pH during acidosis and with plasma inorganic phosphate (Pi) subsequently to the first insulin administration. Oxygen affinity of haemoglobin, measured as P50 act pH, was unchanged in ketoacidosis compared to the time, however, P50 act pH fell striking (p less than 0.001) and remained decreased up to 7 days depending upon the resynthesis of 2,3-DPG in relation to Pi. The Hill-coefeficient in reflecting the slope of the oxygen dissociation curve was diminished in ketoacidosis (p less than 0.005), and decreased further after pH-normalization (p less than 0.005). There was a close association of n with 2,3-DPG (p less than 0.001) and additionally with Pi at 2,3-DPG-levels below 10 mumoles/g Hb. Based on these findings a decreased erythrocyte oxygen release of one fifth during acidosis and more than one third after pH-correction can be hypothesised. In view of the intimate relation of Pi to the oxygen transport system it is suggesed that treatment of ketoacidosis should include Pi-sugstitution.

Oxygen affinity of haemoglobin and red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in childhood diabetes

Red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) and the oxygen haemoglobin dissociation curve (ODC) were determined in 32 ambulatory, non-acidotic diabetic children and in 49 healthy children. Despite the fact that the diabetic children had, on average, an increased haemoglobin concentration, their erythrocytes contained significantly more 2,3-DPG than normal. Both in diabetic and in healthy children a negative relationship was found between the content of 2,3-DPG and the haemoglobin concentrations. No relationship was present between the plasma glucose and the 2,3-DPG concentration. The concentration of plasma inorganic phosphate (Pi) in the diabetic children was significantly higher than in the control children, and for all children there was a significant relationship between the 2,3-DPG and the Pi. In the diabetics 2,3-DPG was positively correlated to the P50 (7.40) and to the P50 (in vivo ph) of the ODC. However, despite the significant increase in 2,3-DPG among the diabetic children the average P50 (7.40) and P50 (in vivo pH) was not increased as compared with the control children. The inhibitory factor preventing the oxygen affinity from decreasing among the diabetics was strongly correlated to an increase in the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. The result of this study suggests the presence of an increased amount of haemoglobin fraction with high oxygen affinity (haemoglobin Alc) in the red cells of juvenile diabetics.

The problem of tissue oxygenation in diabetes mellitus. I. Its relation to the early functional changes in the microcirculation of diabetic subjects

The underlying cause leading to the reversible functional changes in the microcirculation of insulin-dependent diabetic subjects early during the disease prior to any clinical signs of retinopathy and nephropathy (functional microangiopathy) is discussed. It is suggested that the initial microvascular dilation observed in diabetics is due to an autoregulatory response to relative tissue hypoxia providing an increased tissue perfusion in order to improve tissue oxygen delivery. Supporting evidence for this suggestion is derived from the findings that diabetics simultaneously may show increased tissue oxygen consumption and decreased ability of the circulating blood to release oxygen to the tissues. The latter defect is likely to be caused by two interrelated factors: 1. an increased proportion of haemoglobin A1c with high oxygen affinity, and 2. difficulties of maintaining a sufficiently high concentration of plasma inorganic phosphate in order to provide an optimal 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) content in the erythrocytes. The basal oxygen demand of diabetics may fluctuate even within a few hours dependent upon the state of metabolic control and is increased at times of poor regulation. Hence, diabetics may suffer from innumerable cellular hypoxic injuries, which during the first years of the disease are counteracted in the microcirculation by an autoregulatory response. These microvascular reactions associated with increased plasma permeation may over the years be of major importance for the development of the degenerative microangiopathy in diabetes.

Abnormal glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow, and renal protein excretion in recent and short-term diabetics

Glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow were simultaneously determined in comparable groups of 43 diabetics less than 40 years of age and with a duration of diabetes less than 10 years and 32 control subjects. The average glomerular filtration rate in the diabetic group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P <0.01). The average renal plasma flow in the diabetic group was found to be significantly lower than that in the control group (P <0.05). The filtration fraction in both male and female diabetics was significantly higher than in the male and female control groups (P <0.001). These changes were found to be present even in recent juvenile diabetics with disease of a duration of less than one year. No correlation was apparent between the average levels of serum growth hormone and glomerular filtration rate.The urinary protein excretion was determined in 36 diabetic and 38 healthy subjects comparable with regard to glomerular filtration rate. In the diabetic group there was a greater frequency of cases with higher protein excretion rates (P <0.02). The average protein excretion rate was increased even in diabetics with less than one year's duration of the disease.The results of the changes in renal haemodynamics in subjects with recent and short-term diabetes are compatible with the presence of a constrictive state of the vas efferens leading to an increase in the filtration pressure. The increase in protein excretion rate may similarly be a consequence of this process or of an increase in the glomerular permeability with augmented molecular sieving of proteins or both.