[Protein malnutrition in pediatric patients with oncologic diseases].

Abstract

To study the frequency of protein-caloric malnutrition in children (n = 16) with malignant diseases, we measured serum-albumin, -transferrin, -prealbumin and -retinol-binding protein (Radial immunodiffusion) before treatment was started. In 9 children at least 3 of the 4 rapid-turnover proteins were below the age-specific reference values. 7 patients (44%) with low rapid turnover proteins were free from infection, liver and renal dysfunction and thus, diagnosis of protein-caloric malnutrition was established. Anthropometric parameters as weight for age and the weight/height ratio did not predict protein-caloric malnutrition. Nutritional therapy (enteral, parenteral) during a period of 2 weeks resulted in significant increase of albumin (p less than 0.05), prealbumin (p less than 0.01) and retinol-binding protein (p less than 0.01). Rapid turnover proteins can be easily measured in each laboratory and are useful in diagnosis and treatment of protein-caloric malnutrition of children with malignant diseases as long as the limitations of this method are not neglected.

• Authors: H Howanietz, L Thun-Hohenstein, F Haschke, B Pietschnig, R Bruckner, Z Camaya, O A Jürgenssen
• Journal: Klinische Padiatrie (Klin Padiatr) 1987 Mar-Apr Vol. 199 Issue 2 Pg. 73-6 ISSN: 0300-8630 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Protein-Malnutrition bei pädiatrischen Patienten mit onkologischen Erkrankungen.
• PMID: 3108568 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Blood Proteins
• Prealbumin
• Retinol-Binding Proteins
• Serum Albumin
• Transferrin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Blood Proteins (metabolism)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Enteral Nutrition
• Humans
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (complications)
• Neoplasms (complications)
• Parenteral Nutrition
• Prealbumin (metabolism)
• Protein-Energy Malnutrition (blood, diagnosis, therapy)
• Retinol-Binding Proteins (metabolism)
• Serum Albumin (metabolism)
• Transferrin (metabolism)