1. The mechanism underlying the raised leucocyte sodium content in fulminant hepatic failure was studied by measurement of sodium fluxes, (Na+ + K+)-dependent adenosine triphosphatase activity, and leucocyte ATP content.
2. The rate constant for sodium efflux in the leucocytes was significantly reduced, and attributable to reduced activity of the enzyme (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. Leucocyte ATP content was not significantly different from that of control cells.
3. Incubation of cells from patients in the sera of normal subjects resulted in a reversal of these changes. Inhibition of the leucocyte sodium efflux rate constants and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase of normal cells was achieved by incubation in sera from patients.
4. We suggest that the raised sodium content of leucocytes in fulminant hepatic failure is attributable to a defective sodium pumping mechanism, possibly due to a circulating toxin.
