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Radio-isotopic assessment of phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes from patients with protein calorie malnutrition


BJ Burgess

Abstract

Depressed uptakes of 'H-thymidine after phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation of Iymphocytes were found in 37,5% of 24 patients with protein calorie malnutrition (PCM). Folate deficiency accounted for 50% of these depressed uptakes. Iron deficiency was not a significant factor. 'H-uridine uptake (RNA) was reduced in 37,5% of patients, and in the majority of cases when uridine uptake was depressed the same was found for thymidine. An unexpected finding was the lack of correlation between the morphological (100% abnormal) and the radio-isotopic assessment (37,5% abnormal) in PHA-induced Iymphocyte transformation.

S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 1870 (1974).

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eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574