Erythrocyte Abnormality Induced, by Protein Malnutrition

Red cell survival studies using ⁵¹ Cr-labelled erythrocytes were carried out on 14 subjects with protein malnutrition (12 kwashiorkor and two marasmus). The T ½ varied from 3 to 20 days with a mean of 12.4 days. There was significant accumulation of radioactivity demonstrable on scanning over the liver and spleen in three kwashiorkor patients.
Erythrocytes of three kwashiorkor patients showed shortened T ½ both when auto-transfused and when injected into three normal controls. The T ½ of erythrocytes from two normal donors injected into four subjects with kwashiorkor was also considerably reduced.
After protein repletion, auto-transfusion in nine cases showed a T ½ which varied from 20 to 29 days with a mean of 23.7 days.
This investigation has shown considerably reduced erythrocyte survival in patients with protein malnutrition (kwashiorkor and marasmus); this shortened survival time appears to be due to both corpuscular and extra-corpuscular factors. Following protein feeding considerable improvement in the erythrocyte survival took place. Since improvement in erythrocyte survival occurred on a low iron-containing protein diet without haematinics or vitamin supplements it is considered that protein depletion is principally responsible for this shortened survival.