Publication: Clinically unapparent infantile thiamin deficiency in Vientiane, Laos.
Accepted Date
2011-01-21
Issued Date
2011-02-22
Copyright Date
2011
Resource Type
Language
eng
ISSN
1935-2727 (printed)
1935-2735 (electronic)
1935-2735 (electronic)
Rights Holder(s)
Mahidol University
Bibliographic Citation
Khounnorath S, Chamberlain K, Taylor AM, Soukaloun D, Mayxay M, Lee SJ. et al. Clinically unapparent infantile thiamin deficiency in Vientiane, Laos. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2011 Feb 22;5(2):e969.
Suggested Citation
Khounnorath, Sengmanivong, Chamberlain, Karen, Taylor, Ann M., Soukaloun, Douangdao, Mayxay, Mayfong, Lee, Sue J., Phengdy, Bounthom, Luangxay, Khonsavanh, Sisouk, Kongkham, Soumphonphakdy, Bandit, Latsavong, Khaysy, Akkhavong, Kongsin, White, Nicholas J., Newton, Paul N. Clinically unapparent infantile thiamin deficiency in Vientiane, Laos.. Khounnorath S, Chamberlain K, Taylor AM, Soukaloun D, Mayxay M, Lee SJ. et al. Clinically unapparent infantile thiamin deficiency in Vientiane, Laos. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2011 Feb 22;5(2):e969.. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0000969 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/818
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Title
Clinically unapparent infantile thiamin deficiency in Vientiane, Laos.
Corresponding Author(s)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Beriberi occurs in Vientiane, Lao PDR, among breastfed infants.
Clinical disease may be the tip of an iceberg with subclinical thiamin deficiency
contributing to other illnesses. Thiamin treatment could improve outcome.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A cohort of 778 sick infants admitted during one
year without clinical evidence of beriberi were studied prospectively and
erythrocyte transketolase assays (ETK) performed. Biochemical thiamin deficiency
was defined both in terms of the activation coefficient (α>31%) and basal ETK
activity <0.59 micromoles/min/gHb. Of the 778 infants, median (range) age was 5
(0-12) months, 79.2% were breastfed, 5.1% had α>31% and 13.4 % basal ETK<0.59
micromoles/min/gHb. Infants≥2 months old had a higher frequency of biochemical
markers of thiamin deficiency. Mortality was 5.5% but, among infants ≥2 months
old, mortality was higher in those with basal ETK<0.59 micromoles/min/gHb (3/47,
6.4%) than in those with basal ETK≥0.59 micromoles/min/gHb (1/146, 0.7%)
(P=0.045, relative risk=9.32 (95%CI 0.99 to 87.5)). Multivariate regression
analysis indicated that infant age≥2 months and fewer maternal years of schooling
were independently associated with infant basal ETK<0.59 micromoles/min/gHb.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Clinically unapparent thiamin deficiency is common
among sick infants (≥2 months old) admitted to hospital in Vientiane. This may
contribute to mortality and a low clinical threshold for providing thiamin to
sick infants may be needed.