Erythrocyte membrane ATPase activities in patients with chronic active hepatitis B and C virus infections

The aim of the present study was to obtain erythrocyte membrane fractions f rom patients with chronic active hepatitis caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV ) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Na+,K+ ATPase activities were sig nificantly lower (P < 0.005) in HBV related chronic active hepatitis (n = 2 0, 0.134 +/- 0.073 mu mol P/mg protein per h) and in HCV hepatitis (n = 11, 0.144 +/- 0.049 mu mol P/mg protein per h) when compared to control group (n = 10, 0.219 +/- 0.055 mu mol P/mg protein per h). Both types of chronic active hepatitis B and C have markedly altered erythrocyte membrane Na+,KATPase activities that can be indicative of hepatic cell damage in humans. Although HBV and HCV infections are based on diverse mechanisms of action o n their effect in liver injury, they cause similar effects on membrane ATPa se activities. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.