Impression cytology detects subclinical vitamin A deficiency.
The vitamin A status of 16 children with normal eyes and liver disease was evaluated by plasma retinol concentration and by liver vitamin A concentration or iv relative-dose-response test. Conjunctival impression cytology was performed on each child. All children with normal vitamin A status had normal conjunctival impression cytology. All children with abnormal vitamin A status had abnormal conjunctival impression cytology despite their seemingly normal clinical ocular examination. These results suggest that impression cytology can identify individuals with physiologically significant, preclinical vitamin A deficiency.
Amedee-Manesme
O
O
Unite de recherche d'Hepatologie infantile, Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM) U56, Le Kremlin-Bicetre, France.
Luzeau
R
R
Wittepen
J R
JR
Hanck
A
A
Sommer
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000166:cytology; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
D014801:Vitamin A