BENCYCLANE AS AN ANTI-SICKLING AGENT

A vasodilating Ca2+ channel blocker, bencyclane, was used in 18 patien ts with homozygous sickle cell anaemia (SCD) to test the possible anti -sickling effect. With bencylane intervention the Na+-K+ ATPase activi ty increased from 256 +/- 29 to 331 +/- 37 nmolPi/mg protein/h (P < 0. 0001) and the Ca2+-Mg2+ ATPase level increased from 172 +/- 12 to 222 +/- 44 nmolPi/mg protein/h (P < 0.0001). The intracytoplasmic Ca2+ con centration reduced from 3.5 +/- 0.6 to 2.7 +/- 0.25 mu mol/l (P < 0.00 01). The patient's blood contained fewer irreversibly sickled cells (I SCs) (a reduction from 21.4% to 14.4%) (P < 0.05). At the same time MC HC of the erythrocytes decreased from 34.5 to 33.0 g/dl (P < 0.05). Be ncyclane appears to be a promising anti-sickling agent that can be use d orally in SCD.