Increased vitamin A and E levels in adult cystic fibrosis patients after lung transplantation.
Most patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and pancreatic insufficiency require supplementation with fat-soluble vitamins to maintain normal serum levels. Even with supplementation, toxicity is rare. We evaluated serum vitamin A and E levels in 23 adult patients with CF who underwent double lung transplantation. Twenty-one of the subjects were pancreatic insufficient. Fifteen subjects had serum vitamin levels before and after transplant. The median time posttransplantation for these subjects was 9 months. Mean serum vitamin A and E levels were significantly higher posttransplantation (P<0.0001, P<0.001, respectively). Eight subjects who only had posttransplant vitamin levels also had abnormally high vitamin A levels. Although the etiology of this novel finding is unclear, possibilities include altered absorption, drug interactions, impaired retinol metabolism, or increased hepatic synthesis of retinol binding protein.
Stephenson
Anne
A
Toronto Adult CF Centre, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada. stephensona@smh.toronto.on.ca
Brotherwood
Michelle
M
Robert
Ronalee
R
Durie
Peter
P
Verjee
Zul
Z
Chaparro
Cecilia
C
Corey
Mary
M
Tullis
Elizabeth
E
D000328:Adult; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008297:Male; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E