Plasma and leucocyte ascorbic acid concentrations in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

LEUCOCYTE and plasma ascorbic acid concentrations were measured in ten normal children and in ten with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, of the same age-range (4-14 years) and matched for hospitalisation. Leucocyte ascorbic acid concentrations were higher in the normal children than in older adolescent children. Plasma and leucocyte acid concentrations were significantly lower in the leukaemic patients. The reduced levels could not be altributed to dietary deficiency, malabsorption of the vitamin, or the therapeutic regimen. It is concluded that the reduction in blood ascorbic acid is due to a pathophysiological tissue demand for the vitamin.