Ribonuclease activity in plasma and leucocytes of malnourished children

RNAase activity was measured in plasma and leucocytes of manourished children. In subjects suffering from kwashiorkor, alk. RNAase levels in plasma and leucocytes were markedly raised and they returned to normal after therapy. However, the enzyme activity was not altered in undernourished children. These data indicate that circulating level of alkaline. RNAase is not a useful parameter for detecting milder grades of protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM).