Serum valine and methionine levels in pernicious anaemia under treatment.

Abstract

Summary:The serum levels of the amino acids, valine and methionine have been determined by a quantitative microbiological method in 17 cases of pernicious anaemia both before and on successive days after treatment. The results have been compared with the serum levels of the two amino acids in 16 normal subjects under similar conditions.The serum valine level is normal in pernicious anaemia in relapse. It falls sharply during the first 48 hours following treatment, thereafter rising gradually to reach about two‐thirds the pretreatment level by the fifth day. This confirms the fall in valine level in whole blood and marrow previously reported in pernicious anaemia under treatment.The serum methionine level is subnormal in pernicious anaemia in relapse. It rises to normal in 48 hours after treatment.Both vitamin B12 and folic acid are effective in lowering the serum valine and elevating the serum methionine.The rise in serum methionine can be explained in terms of the known actions of vitamin B12 and folic acid. The fall in serum valine cannot at present be explained but several possibilities are discussed.