title: Acute folate deficiency associated with intravenous nutrition with aminoacid-sorbitol-ethanol: prophylaxis with intravenous folic acid.
abstract: Preoperative folate levels were initially normal in 30 patients with gastrointestinal tract disease but fell within 48 h by 60-95% in 20 patients who received intravenous nutrition for 6-12 d with aminoacid-sorbitol-ethanol (ASE). This depression persisted in patients not given folate supplements. Folate levels in 10 control patients not given ASE showed only minimal decline. Haematological changes were reduced to a minimum in 10 patients given 0.5 mg i.v. folic acid daily whilst eight unsupplemented patients showed evidence of megaloblastic haemopoiesis. Three of these eight patients developed thrombocytopenia and/or leukopenia which was fatal in one patient.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008534:Megaloblasts; D008875:Middle Aged; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid