Protein deficiency and treatment of xerophthalmia
A. Sommer and I. Tarwotjo
In a controlled clinical trial of massive-dose vitamin A therapy for
xerophthalmia, holo-retinol-binding protein (holo-RBP) response was related
to baseline protein status. Corneal healing was more commonly delayed or
transient in children with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), despite the
vast majority achieving holo-RBP levels incompatible with severe corneal
destruction. Correction of PEM is essential to ensuring a sustained
clinical cure, and repeated massive vitamin A therapy is advisable until
that occurs.
