550 THE TOCOPHEROLS 



c. Other Implications 



There are suggested alterations in the peripheral vascular system during 

 early phases of life in connection with certain manifestations of experi- 

 mental vitamin E deficiency; for instance, exudative diathesis and nutri- 

 tional encephalomalacia in young chicks, vascular stasis and hemorrhage 

 in the fetus of low-E rats, the reported effect of tocopherol on vascular 

 resistance in guinea pigs, and stilbestrol-induced purpura in dogs. To these 

 may be added the reported, but as yet unestablished, effects of tocopherol 

 in thrombocytopenic purpura and in thromboembolic phenomena in adult 

 man as discussed in a later section. On the basis of these reported findings, 

 clinicians have been led to test the efficacy of ^-tocopherol in certain dis- 

 orders of infancy with results which are somewhat questionable. 



Impressed by the frequency with which fetal death in prematures, espe- 

 cially in those with birth weights under 1.5 kg., can be related to cerebro- 

 meningeal hemorrhages due to multiple rupture of capillary vessels, Min- 

 kowski^^*- 1^^ has attempted to measure the vascular resistance of such 

 infants (on the basis of petechiae produced by vacuum cup applied to skin 

 of the back) and its response to vitamin P-like substances and to a-to- 

 copherol. When mothers were given large doses (600 to 900 mg.) of a-to- 

 copherol several hours prior to premature delivery, there was a definite 

 increase in vascular resistance of the premature infant as compared to that 

 observed in infants of comparable weight from untreated mothers: tocoph- 

 erol also lessened the visibility of the capillary network of the skin, as 

 visualized by the capillaroscope.^^^ There were four instances of intracranial 

 hemorrhages in the treated group, and twelve in the untreated group, each 

 represented by 105 infants; Minkowski considers these results suggestive 

 of beneficial effects but recognizes the need for additional data before more 

 conclusive statements can be made. 



It has been reported^*®- ^^^ that ce-tocopherol given to pregnant, Rh-nega- 

 tive mothers protects the infant against erythroblastosis, possibly through 

 reduced permeability of the placenta to the Rh antigen, as indicated b}^ 

 marked reduction of antibody titer in the maternal plasma. 



Gerloczy, who was for a period convinced that a-tocopherol, largcl}^ 

 through a diuretic effect, greatly benefited premature infants with sclere- 

 dema, has since reported^^^ that subsequent experience has led him to doubt 

 the efficacy of tocopherol therapy. Tocopherol is said to be effective in the 

 treatment of erythredema (Pink disease) ^^^ and in effecting increased ap- 



i«* A. Minkowski, Arch, frang. pediat. 6, 276 (1949); Ann. Paediat. 174, 80 (1950). 



1" A. Minkowski, Le Sang 22, 701 (1951). 



186 B. S. Ten Berge, Med. Tijdschr. Geneesk. 94, 3417 (1950). 



1" B. S. Ten Berge and F. J. J. Van Assen, Med. Tydschr. Veiiosk. 50, 38 (1950). 



188 F. Gerlocz}', Paediat. dannb. 6, 83 (1949). 



183 G. Forsyth, Med. J. Australia I, 78 (1941). 



I 



