LEUKOCYTE HEXOSE-MONOPHOSPHATE SHUNT ACTIVITY DURING PHAGOCYTOSIS IN VITAMIN-B12 AND FOLIC-ACID DEFICIENCIES

Little information exists about leukocytic function in megaloblastic anemia. A report of abnormal hexose monophosphate shunt and phagocytic activity only in vitamin B12 deficiency and not in folate deficiency prompted us to examine latex-stimulated hexose monophosphate shunt activity in the two conditions. Only two of our five patients with pernicious anemia demonstrated defective activation, while one of the two folate-deficient patients also had this effect. These findings clearly indicate that hexose monophosphate shunt activity is neither consistently impaired in vitamin B12 deficiency nor consistently unaffected in folate deficiency.