Longitudinal studies of nutritional status in patients having chemotherapy for testicular teratomas.

The nutritional status of 14 patients with metastatic testicular teratomas was measured longitudinally through four courses of treatment with vinblastine and bleomycin, or vinblastine, bleomycin and cis platinum regimens. On each regimen patients lost weight during each course and did not entirely regain it between courses. The nutritional status with respect to retinol and vitamins E, B1 and B6 also fell during each course. The fall in plasma retinol levels was correlated with a fall in the plasma level of retinol-binding protein (RBP). In patients treated with the vinblastine and bleomycin regimen, plasma retinol levels were higher at the beginning of the fourth course than at the start of the treatment, possibly due to improved synthesis of RBP. In contrast, there was no overall improvement in B1 status.