[Biochemical tests during measles].

In order to evaluate the role of measles in the development of vitamin A deficiency, biochemical parameters were compared in four groups of patients: a) 31 children in the first week of measles, b) 10 of these children who returned two weeks later, c) 9 patients hospitalized with other infections and d) 6 healthy controls. The average levels of serum iron, carotene, total proteins, albumin and beta-globulins did not differ significantly between these groups. However, during the first week of measles the following significant differences were found: a) an increase in alpha-2 and alpha-1-globulin levels (p less than 0,01), b) a decrease in gamma-globulin level (p less than 0,001), c) a decrease in vitamin A concentration (p less than 0,05) without clinical signs of deficiency. In the 10 patients who came again 2 weeks after the rash these parameters had returned toward control levels.