Catechol-O-methyltransferase activity in erythrocytes of pregnant women with sickle cell disease before, during, and after transfusion and partial exchange transfusion.
In the present investigation we found that the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity in erythrocytes of pregnant women with sickle cell disease was strikingly elevated compared with that in erythrocytes of men and pregnant and nonpregnant women. Moreover, the enzyme activity in erythrocytes remained high during and after transfusion or partial exchange transfusion even though the enzyme activity in donor cells was low. This finding is suggestive of the possibility that a factor(s) in plasma of persons with sickle cell disease activates erythrocyte COMT activity.
D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D005078:Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000628:therapy*
D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase