Effect of polyamines on autohemolysis: studies on normal and thalassemic children.

The effect of glucose and polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) on the rate of autohemolysis in normal and thalassemic red blood cell (RBC) populations has been investigated. In addition, the specific activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was measured on blood samples obtained from the same patients. Our results show that glucose, and to a less extent polyamines, reduce the autohemolysis of thalassemic RBC, and that specific activity of SOD is increased in RBC from thalassemic patients compared to normal subjects.