Abstract
Extract: Erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) concentrations in 10 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia rose 21.3% (P < 0.02) after 3 weeks of prednisone and vincristine therapy, and returned to pretreatment level 2 weeks after therapy had been discontinued. The mean 2,3-DPG level of three patients on vincristine alone did not vary significantly from the control level of the leukemia patients on prednisone and vincristine. No significant change in serum inorganic phosphate level was observed.
The mean erythrocyte 2,3-DPG concentration of 17 nephrotic syndrome patients being treated with chronic prednisone therapy was 14.0% higher than a control group of 20 nephrotic syndrome patients not being treated with prednisone (P < 0.01). A significant positive correlation was observed between the dose of prednisone and 2,3-DPG level.
Speculation: Human erythrocyte 2,3-DPG concentrations may be manipulated by pharmacologic doses of prednisone. Prednisone therapy may therefore be of potential benefit in clinical conditions characterized by decreased oxygen delivery to tissues.
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Silken, A. Pharmacologic Manipulation of Human Erythrocyte 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate Levels by Prednisone Administration. Pediatr Res 9, 61–64 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197502000-00001
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197502000-00001
