title: [Folate deficiency in medical intensive care: incidence, predictive factors and consequences. Results of a prospective study with 105 patients].
abstract: Among 105 patients admitted to a medical intensive care unit over a five-month period, 53 per cent had a fall in serum folate concentration (less than 5 ng/ml), and 19 per cent had a concomitant fall in erythrocyte folate concentration (less than 170 ng/ml). Acute folate deficiency with severe haematological changes was observed in 2 patients. Apart from these 2 cases, the usual haematological parameters were not significantly different in patients with or without folate deficiency. On admission, there was a significant correlation between folate status, severity index and serum albumin and transferrin, all variables which reflect the patient's nutritional status. Patients with infection and fever, and those who have recently been operated upon are at a higher risk of folate deficiency. These findings suggest that patients admitted to a medical intensive care unit should receive an early supplement of folic acid.
authors.affiliation: Service de Réanimation médicale, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Campillo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Gialluly
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marquet
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jouault
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zittoun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
vernacular_title: La carence en folates en réanimation médicale: fréquence, facteurs prédictifs et conséquences. Résultats d'une étude prospective chez 105 malades.