Assessment of vitamin A status in an elderly French population using impression cytology with transfer.
The vitamin A status of 105 elderly French people was assessed by ocular impression cytology with transfer (ICT). 5 patients (4.8%) had a negative ICT defined by the absence of goblet cells and the enlargement of the epithelial cells (deficient vitamin A status). 100 patients had a positive ICT with goblet cells and small, numerous epithelial cells (sufficient vitamin A status). ICT results were compared to serum biochemical parameters. Mean serum levels of retinol, retinol-binding protein (RBP) and transthyretin (TTR) were significantly lower while C-reactive protein (CRP) and orosomucoid were significantly higher in negative ICT than in positive one. The etiology of vitamin A deficiency is difficult to conclude (malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency, inflammation). ICT is a good indicator of peripheral vitamin A deficiency in our experience.
Carlier
C
C
INSERM U 56, Hôpital de Bicêtre, France.
Mourey
M S
MS
Luzeau
R
R
Ellrodt
A
A
Lemmonier
D
D
Amedée-Manesme
O
O
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000166:cytology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000378:metabolism; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000097:blood; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
D009961:Orosomucoid; D011228:Prealbumin; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D014801:Vitamin A; D002097:C-Reactive Protein