Transient Dysproteinemia in Infants

Abstract

The concentration of any constituent of the blood reflects the net balance between the rate of entrance of that substance into the blood and the rate at which it leaves the blood. Alteration of the concentration may occur as a result of a change in either or both rates. In order to gain better understanding of the mechanism responsible for the decreased concentration of plasma proteins in infants with idiopathic hypoproteinemia and anemia of a transitory nature, plasma albumin and globulin turnover rates have been measured in these infants as well as in normal infants. With the use of isotopes it has been possible to measure the rates of isotope incorporation and disappearance of various in vivo systems. Plasma protein turnover rates have been calculated by various methods employing a tracer isotope. The results of these reported studies make it clear that the rates of synthesis and degradation of albumin