Leukocytic enzyme differences between the clinical forms of malnutrition

The enzymatic activities of peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes obtained by dextran sedimentation from 15 children with both clinical forms of malnutrition were compared to the activity found in normal children. No differences were detected in peroxidase and lysozyme activities between control subjects and children affected with marasmus or kwashiorkor. However, nitro-blue tetrazolium reduction was found increased in marasmus ( P < 0.001) and kwashiorkor ( P < 0.01), while acid cathepsin decreased only in marasmus ( P < 0.01) and acid phenylphosphatase ( P < 0.001) and alkaline phosphatase ( P < 0.01) increased only in kwashiorkor. These striking differences found between marasmus and kwashiorkor concerning some of the leukocytic enzyme activities measured suggest that when studying protein-calorie malnutrition it is important to consider separately the results obtained from both clinical forms of malnutrition.