Hypertonic hemolysis in patients with a mood disorder

Hypertonic hemolysis was increased in patients with a manic episode (n = 6, mean NaCl concentration in mol/L at which 50% of the erythrocytes was hemolyzed (H50) 3.24 ± 0.10), compared to healthy controls (n = 12, mean H50 3.43 ± 0.13) (p ≤ 0.02) and patients with a nonaffective psychotic disorder (n = 15, mean H50 3.42 ± 0.18) (p ≤ 0.02). Compared to these two control groups, hypertonic hemolysis was decreased in patients with a severe depressive episode (n = 8, mean H50 3.62 ± 0.19) (p ≤ 0.05 and p ≤ 0.02, respectively). Within the total depressed patient group, the patients with an increased genetic vulnerability (n = 8, mean H50 3.68 ± 0.16) showed a decreased hypertonic hemolysis compared to the other depressed patients (n = 14, mean H50 3.40 ± 0.16) (p ≤ 0.002).