AUTOLYSED YEAST PRODUCTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ANAEMIA
Authors: L. S. P. Davidson
Journal: BMJ (1933)

AMMEDICAL JOURNAA reticulocyte crisis and a rise in the blood level as prompt SURVEY OF CASES and-as satisfactory as that obtained by liver extract.Similar results have been reported by Vaughan andi Below are given case records show.ng the therapeutic Hunter4 in the macrocytic anaemia which is found effects of autolysed yeast products (marmite) and extracts occasionally in coeliac disease and by Castle and Rhoadss made therefrom.For the final proof regardiing the potency in cases of sprue.Mudaliar and Raoh6 however, found of any agent it is necessary to show in cases where no in eleven cases of pernicious ana.emia of pregnancy that response is elicited that an effect can be produced when marmite in doses of one drachm three times a day was a known active preparation is subsequently used.A ineffective, although only one of them failed to respond short note on each case is accordingly necessary.to subsequent liver treatment.Parsons1 treated two Case 1.-A.G., aged 62, was admitted to hospital wTith infants suffering from a macrocytic hyperchromic anaemia a red cell count of 1,000,000 and a haemoglobin of 28 per with a yeast product, for one and four months respec-cent.Liver extract was given or eight days; a 20 per cent.tively, with negative results.reticulocyte crisis resulted, and a gain of 1,800,000 red cells , -occurred in twenty-four days.After a control period of Foor the purpose of the discussion which follows, twelve days, treatment with marmite (45 grams daily) wasCastle's7 hypothesis regarding the aetiology of pernicious begun, and as no change occurred in ten days the patient was anaemia is accepted namely, that megaloblastic blood given liver and liver extract, iron being added later, with formation is due to a lack of some specific anti-anaemic the result that his blood count rose to: red cells, 5,000,000 factor which is formed by the interaction of a ferment haemoglobin, 100 per cent.The patient aas still at this secreted by the stomach (intrinsic factor) upon some level one year later.constituent of the proteins of foodstuffs (extrinsic factor).Case 2.-G.G., aged 65.Blood count on adlmission to Inrmath n a ue toaypes of anaemia the gastric secretion hospltal red cells 2,120,000t; haemoglcbinc 48 per cent.caeolourbinde, 1.15 whier cells, 3,75 atrenticwaytsstlesst than appears to be normal, and the deficiency of the specific 1 per cent.After three weeks treatment with marmite ( 45anti-anaemic factor is the result of a lack of extrinsic grams daily) the count .as: red cells, 1,790,000 haemofactor consequent upon dietary deficiency or imperfect globin, 53 per cent.colour index, 1.51 ; retculccytes less assimilation from the gastro-intestinal tract.In than 1 per cent.The patient was then given a series of Addisonian pernicious anaemia the essential fault lies in injections of campolon, whiclN produced an inc;rease of defective gastric secretion, while failure in absorption 2,500,000 red cells in three wceeks.plays a minor part in the pathogenesis of the disease.Case 3.-Nt.T., aged 70.Blood c:ount on admission to Contiranadictryresults regarding the therapeutic value hospital: red c olls n 1,840,000; haecmoglobin, 43 per cent.colour cor actory index, 1.19 p; white cellso,3,430; reticulocytes, 1 per cent.Of yeast products have been published.Thus Goodall Fourteen days' treatment wiith marmite (45 to 90 grams and Ungley9 report some succssesswhen large amounts daity) produced no change in the blood level.Accordingly, of marmite were administered daily, while Castle10 and the patient received seventeen daily injections of campolon,