Aflatoxins in the livers of children with kwashiorkor in Ghana.

Autopsy liver specimens from 22 kwashiorkor children in Ghana were analysed for the presence of aflatoxins using both high performance liquid chromatography and thin layer chromatography. Aflatoxin B1 was found in the livers of 20 subjects and aflatoxicol in the livers of the remaining two subjects. These results confirm previous findings of aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxicol in the livers of children with kwashiorkor and provide further evidence of associations between these toxic compounds and kwashiorkor which might have relevance to the aetiology and pathogenesis of this disease which as yet remain mysterious.