Red blood cell susceptibility to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) lysis in chronic hemodialysis patients.

To assess susceptibility to oxidant induced membrane damage, the red blood cell H2O2 hemolysis test was performed in fifty-three chronic hemodialysis patients. Uremic red blood cells were not more susceptible to 2.5% H2O2 lysis pre or postdialysis than were control red blood cells. Oxidant induced red blood cell lysis is a function of the strength of the oxidant and not a testable intrinsic defect of the uremic red blood cell.