We have examined the effect of exposure of human erythrocytes to the new chemotherapy drug 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA, cladribine), focusing on the glutathione (GSH and GSSG) content and the adenine energy charge (AEC). Incubation of erythrocytes with 0.1-5 microg/ml 2-CdA induced no significant change in the reduced or total glutathione level or in the AMP and ATP concentrations. The ADP concentration increased slightly and the AEC value is in the range typical of healthy organisms. Incubation of erythrocytes with 2-CdA also caused cell shape changes, converting most of the cells to echinocytes.