Glutathione Instability in Normal Blood

Studies have been carried out in vitro to determine whether normal erythrocytes may be made to appear glutathione unstable. Results demonstrate that constant agitation in air or oxygen will cause a drop in reduced glutathione upon incubation of normal blood with an oxidant drug in concentrations which have no significant effect during quiet incubation.

The results are consistent with the fact that drug-induced hemolysis may be seen in nonsensitive individuals and that sensitive individuals may have a mild hemolytic state without exogenous drug.