THE OCCURRENCE OF ABNORMAL DARK ADAPTATION AND ITS RELATION TO VITAMIN A METABOLISM IN PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER

Abstract

Liver disease frequently is mentioned as a cause of vitamin A deficiency (1, 2). However, little evidence to support this opinion is present in the medical literature. Although many instances of coexisting liver disease and keratomalacia are re- ported, almost all of those recorded are associ- ated with jaundice (3). In other reports no mention is made as to whether or not jaundice is present. Since the occurrence of jaundice with- out liver disease can lead to vitamin A deficiency, presumably through faulty absorption of the vitamin from lack of bile in the intestinal tract, such coincidence of keratomalacia and liver disease with jaundice may not be ascribed strictly to al- tered liver function. Moreover, as pointed out by Altschule (3), the diet of patients with liver