Intravenous hyperalimentation. An adjunct to treatment of malignant disease of upper gastrointestinal tract

Abstract

A prospective search for factors that would anticipate successful nutritional repletion was undertaken in patients with advanced malignant diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract. After 2 wk of i.v. hyperalimentation, increasing serum transferrin levels, total lymphocyte counts, and, to a lesser extent, arm muscle circumferences predicted an improved quality of survival, whereas declines in these factors were seen in patients who died. Skin tests, T[thymus-derived]-lymphocyte counts, albumin levels and other anthropomorphic measurements were not predictive. The single most useful test was the serum transferrin: in only 1 patient did it not reflect the eventual outcome of therapy.