Serial levels of plasma linoleic acid in tetanus.

The fatty acid pattern of fasting plasma lipids has been measured in patients admitted to hospital with tetanus. Measurements were made on admission and at intervals throughout the illness and on discharge of the subjects as clinically recovered.The linoleic acid content of fasting plasma lipids was markedly decreased on admission; it remained low, despite 'adequate' intake even on clinical recovery.Palmitic palmitoleic and oleic acid content was increased resembling the pattern in essential fatty acid deficiency.This phenomenon of reduced linoleic acid and fatty acid pattern resembling that of essential lfatty acid deficiency may be common in severe illness but clinical recovery can occur without return of the pattern to normal.