ENZYMATIC-ACTIVITY, CONTENT OF PYRUVATE, LACTATE AND 2,3-DPG IN RED-CELLS OF PATIENTS WITH SEVERE MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTION AND PURULENT-MENINGITIS

Red cell metabolism (RCM) was examined in 63 patients with severe and complicated meningococcal infection and purulent meningitis of another etiology. There were complex pathobiochemical shifts with changes in glycolysis (in activity of lactate dehydrogenase, piruvatkinase, in th e amount of piruvate, lactate and 2.3-DPG), antioxidant status (in the activity of glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase, glutathione reductase) . Mg++, Na+ K+-dependent ATPase. Primary depression of red cell metabo lism changed for compensatory activation for hypoxia adaptation in cli nical improvement. RCM disturbance coincided with emergence of early c omplications and reached maximum in lethal outcome. Pathogenetic and c linical implications of RCM in meningococcal infection and purulent me ningitis are described.