Variations of various plasma (albumin, prealbumin, retinol binding protein), and urinary parameters during measles in Senegalese children

In order to evaluate the effect of measles on proteins carrying vitamin A, we have examined 58 children with measles (24 have been seen again 2 weeks later) and 52 healthy controls of similar age and nutritional status. During the course of fever we have observed a high urinary excretion of urea and creatinine with proteinuria while the hydroxyproline index is significantly lower than in the controls. Irrespective of the nutritional status the plasma levels of albumin, prealbumin and R.B.P. are consistantly low. Two weeks later, while the albumin level has decreased, the other parameters are aiming towards normal values. The higher levels of prealbumin and R.B.P. suggest a reactivation of the hepatic protein synthesis. The urinary excretion of R.B.P. has not changed significantly during measles. We have observed rather high urinary losses of R.B.P. in the controls. The low levels of plasma prealbumin possibly do not allow the complete binding of the R.B.P.