Serum vitamin [A] levels in respiratory syncytial virus infection

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to estimate the serum level of vitamin A in infants with acute bronchiolitis and its relation to respiratory syncytial virus [RSV] infection. Thirty-five infants suffering from acute bronchiolitis were studied compared with a control group of ten apparently healthy infants [their ages ranged 4-10 months]. Serum levels of vitamin A were estimated using high pressure liquid chromatography [HPLC] technique and RSV diagnosis was based on clinical findings and detection of serum IgM antibodies by ELISA. Post-illness serum levels of vitamin A for +ve RSV assay were reestimated. It was found that 65.7% of bronchiolitis cases were caused by RSV. Serum vitamin A levels were lower in RSV +ve infants in comparison with both RSV -ve and control subjects. Post-illness levels of serum vitamin A were higher than the levels during illness but still lower than the control. The lower values were associated with the more severe and longer duration of illness. In conclusion, respiratory syncytial virus infection led to the depression of serum levels of vitamin A during illness which raised post-illness