Laboratory evaluation during high-dose vitamin A administration: a randomized study on lung cancer patients after surgical resection

The laboratory findings in patients receiving high-dose vitamin A as adjuvant treatment for stage I lung cancer are here reported. A group of 283 patients were randomized to either treatment with retinyl palmitate (300 000 IU daily for 12 months) or standard followup, and are now evaluable after a median observation period of 28 months. At regular intervals, all the patients underwent a physical examination, chest roentgenogram, blood chemistries, haematological assays, hepatic and renal function tests and determinations of serum triglycerides and cholesterol. Serum transaminase abnormalities were of similar magnitude in cases and controls, while γ-glutamyltransferase levels were abnormally elevated in 69% of the treated patients compared to 39% of controls (mean values 149 vs 57 IU/l at 24 months, P