Sites of destruction of red cells in G-6-PD deficient Caucasians and in phenylhydrazine treated patients.

The sites of destruction of 51Cr tagged G-6-PD deficient red cells in normal and primaquine sensitive Sardinians after drug administration have been studied by means of surface monitoring and, in one case, by direct quantitation after surgery. In practically all cases a liver to spleen ratio of one could be recorded, with a constant splenic participation in the uptake of radioactivity. It was observed that, beside the major role played by the liver in the sequestration and disposal of severely damaged G-6-PD deficient red cells after administration of primaquine, also the spleen has a significant share in the disposal of damaged cells.