ABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To study the relationship between erythrocyte filtration index (EFI) and cholesterol and Na+ -K+ -ATPase activity of erythrocyte membrane in early stage of severe burns.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The EFI was measured by means of percolation, the erythrocyte membrane cholesterol level was measured by means of chemically modified electrode, and the membrane Na+ -K+ -ATPase activity by means of detection of Pi.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In early stage of severe burns, the cholesterol level and Na+ -K -ATPase activity of erythrocyte membrane were always higher than those of control group (P < 0.01), but the EFI was lower than that of control group (P < 0.01). The cholesterol level and Na+ -K+ -ATPase activity of the erythrocyte membrane were negative correlation with EFI (r cho= -0.871, r ATPase = -0.801, P < 0.01) nospectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The cholesterol level and Na+ -K+ -ATPase activity of erythrocyte membrane play a key role in the change of EFI.</p>