[Folic acid substitution in advanced renal disease (author's transl)]

The plasma content of folic acid was evaluated in 27 patients with advanced renal disease. There were no significant morphologic changes within the erythrocyts of the peripheral blood and bone marrow. The hematologic response of the reticulocyts, hemoglobin and hematokrit were studied after oral treatment with folic acid. There was a significant reticulocytosis at the 5th to the 8th day after initiating the oral treatment. This reaction underlines a definite, mainly nutritional (latent) folic acid deficiency being one cause for the renal anemia in these patients. A subsequent rise of the hemoglobin or hematocrit did not occur. Further possible causes for these clinical data are being discussed.