BIOCHEMICAL MEDICINE AND METABOLIC BIOLOGY 43, 101-1&t (1%)) Red Cell Membrane Lipid Peroxidation in Transfusion-Dependent B and EB Thalassemia P. LAHIRI, S. BHATTACHARJEE, S. CHANDRA, AND D. K. BHATTACHARYA The Society for Research on Haematology and Blood Transjitsion, Futnani Chambers, Gate-l, Flat-20F, Corporation Place, Calcutta 700 087, India Received September 5, 1989; and in revised form November 2. 1989 B thalassemia (pth”‘) results from the persistence of y chain synthesis of a hemoglobin moiety resulting in variable elevation of fetal type hemoglobin (a2* ~2~) in place of adult hemoglobin (a2* /32*); hemoglobin E is a p chain variant (PG’“-Lys ). Heterozygotes (traits) of both ptha’ and E are prevalent in Eastern India, where the interacting genes of EB thalassemia (HbpE) have a clinical advantage over those of homozygous ptha’ (1). The red blood cell membrane is particularly prone to peroxidative stress, which has been shown to be increased in thalassemia (2). Although a battery of an- tioxidant enzyme systems are available in the cell to counter this effect (3-5), it is still not possible to cope with the increased autoxidative process in thal- assemia which paves the way for membrane lipid peroxidation leading to the cleavage of polyunsaturated fatty acids forming malondialdehyde (MDA) (6) and subsequently to hemolysis. Although studies of B thalassemia have been per- formed (2,7) there is an apparent lack of knowledge of the autoxidative process in EB thalassemia. The present investigation is aimed at studying the peroxidative process in B and EB thalassemia patients being treated at this center. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study comprised B thalassemia (n = 45), EB thalassemia (n = 29), and normal subjects as control (n = 7). Only 3 out of 74 patients had undergone splenectomy. The patients were diagnosed after clinical and hematological in- vestigations which included hemoglobin (Hb) concentration (g/dl), red cell mor- phology, osmotic fragility test, alkali-resistant Hb estimation, and agarose gel electrophorsis of Hb with suitable modification (8,9). The diagnostic procedure also included determination of carrier traits of the parents of the patients. All the patients received packed cell transfusions, usually at intervals of 3 weeks. Blood samples were collected just prior to transfusions, when hemoglobin levels were at their lowest. Hemoglobin concentration was determined, the sam- ples were centrifuged at 4°C at 3000 rpm, and the plasma and buffy coat were 101 0885-4505/90 $3.00 Copyright 0 1990 by Academic Press, Inc. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved.