Abnormalities in erythrocyte membrane phospholipids in patients with liver cirrhosis

The cholesterol:phospholipid molar ratio, the fatty acid composition, and the distribution of individual phospholipids within erythrocyte membranes were studied in eight patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and seven healthy subjects. The total red cell phospholipid content was significantly (P < 0.02) lower in cirrhotics than in normal subjects, resulting in increased membrane cholesterol:phospholipid molar ratio in the former. The percent of arachidonic acid was significantly (P < 0.02) lower in the patient than in the control group. Cirrhotic patients displayed a significantly (P < 0.001) higher percentage of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol and a lower percentage of phosphatidylethanolamine than the control subjects. No significant differences were observed in the phosphatidylcholine:sphingomyeline molar ratio between the two groups. The results suggest that the altered lipid composition of erythrocyte plasma membranes could be, at least in part, related to changes in the phospholipid distribution within the membranes. © 1982.