RENAL-TRANSPLANTATION AND RED-BLOOD-CELL SODIUM-TRANSPORT - ROLE OF PREDNISONE TREATMENT

This study assesses the role of prednisone and endogenous digoxin-like immunoreactivity (EDLI) in the increased Na+ pump activity in renal allograft patients. Red blood cell (RBC) Na+ transport activities and plasma concentrations of EDLI were measured in ten controls and ten renal allograft recipients (5 hypertensive) while undergoing treatment with cyclosporin, prednisone, and azathioprine, and also after prednisone withdrawal. As compared to controls, prednisone-treated patients showed an increased Na+ pump activity (0.323/h vs 0.571, P < 0.05) and decreased RBC Na+ concentration (6.69 mM vs 4.99, P < 0.05). They also showed a decrease in the activity of cotransport, countertransport, and passive Na+ efflux (0.02/h vs 0.005, P < 0.05; 207-mu-mol/l vs 35, P < 0.05; 0.02/h vs 0.005 respectively, P < 0.05). After prednisone withdrawal, normotensive and hypertensive patients showed RBC Na+ transport system activities and RBC Na+ concentration similar to those of controls. EDLI was not detected in controls or in patients. We conclude that prednisone treatment increased the Na+ pump activity, and decreased the RBC Na+ concentration. Moreover, it induced a decrease in the activity of secondary RBC Na+ transport systems. This study provides no evidence for a modulatory role of EDLI in the RBC Na+ pump activity. Neither parameters can be presumed to be a marker of hypertension in these patients.