Follow up of various plasma and intraerythrocytic variables in children with malnutrition and concurrent infections during the nutritional recovery period

: The evolution of total amino acid (TAA) variables and the ratio non-essential amino acids/essential amino acids (NE/E) in plasma and red blood cells, and the respective erythrocytic/plasma (E/P) ratios were studied in 12 children of both sexes, between 8 and 60 months old, who had had intercurrent infections during the nutritional from an intense protein-energy denutrition. Intercurrent infections during the nutritional recovery period are manifested by an increased NE/E ratio and its further decrease whenever infection is controlled, a fact which proves the prognostic value of this indicator. The E/P variable for NE/E is more sensitive than plasma or intraerythrocytic variables in the follow up and control of infection since it gradually increases despite the process is controlled. Erythrocytic TAA concentration also increases during the infection period though the increase is not as marked as that of NE/E ratio, and also it is more sensitive than plasma TAA concentration. It is stressed the higher usefulness of erythrocytic variables when compared to plasma variables in the detection of early changes of nubritional balance.