Abnormalities of tryptophan metabolism and plasma pyridoxal phosphate in Hodgkin's disease.

Abstract

Abstract Plasma levels of pyridoxal phosphate and the metabolism of L-tryptophan were studied in 43 patients with Hodgkin's disease. Evidence for deficiency of pyridoxal phosphate was found on both tests; plasma levels were depressed in eight of 14 untreated patients tested, and 14 of 21 untreated patients excreted increased quantities of at least one of the intermediary compounds in the tryptophan degradative pathway. Both tests gave abnormal results most frequently in patients with advanced or symptomatic disease. In contrast, both tests were within normal limits in 14 patients in complete remission after chemotherapy for advanced disease. All eight patients with low plasma pyridoxal phosphate levels were anergic, of interest in view of the immunosuppressive effects of experimental pyridoxine deficiency. There was little evidence to implicate pyridoxal phosphate deficiency in the anemia of Hodgkin's disease.