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Serum Valine and Methionine Levels in Pernicious Anaemia under Treatment
Author(s) -
Parry T. E.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1969.tb00397.x
Subject(s) - valine , methionine , pernicious anaemia , medicine , amino acid , vitamin b12 , folic acid , cyanocobalamin , endocrinology , blood serum , vitamin , chemistry , biochemistry
Summary: The serum levels of the amino acids, valine and methionine have been determined by a quantitative microbiological method in 17 cases of pernicious anaemia both before and on successive days after treatment. The results have been compared with the serum levels of the two amino acids in 16 normal subjects under similar conditions. The serum valine level is normal in pernicious anaemia in relapse. It falls sharply during the first 48 hours following treatment, thereafter rising gradually to reach about two‐thirds the pretreatment level by the fifth day. This confirms the fall in valine level in whole blood and marrow previously reported in pernicious anaemia under treatment. The serum methionine level is subnormal in pernicious anaemia in relapse. It rises to normal in 48 hours after treatment. Both vitamin B 12 and folic acid are effective in lowering the serum valine and elevating the serum methionine. The rise in serum methionine can be explained in terms of the known actions of vitamin B 12 and folic acid. The fall in serum valine cannot at present be explained but several possibilities are discussed.