A reassessment of intravascular volume measurements in protein—calorie malnutrition

Abstract

Accurate determination of plasma volume was difficult in edematous protein-calorie malnutrition, but the equilibration of 51Cr labeled red cells showed that red cell volume measurements were valid in this syndrome. The red cell volumes were measured in afflicted Bantu children during a refeeding program. Expression of the results in ml/kg, ml per m2 or ml per cm was misleading and was replaced by expressing the results as a percentage of the means of the normal values for the height. The red cell volume increase that ought to occur at the end of refeeding program (and hence the Fe requirement) was far higher than suggested by the packed cell volume. With treatment the red cell volume increases slowly. The red cell volume and plasma volume changes that occur during treatment do not take place at the same rate.