Low Plasma Protein in Nephritis 



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The cause of low plasma protein concentration in nephritis. 



By G. C. LINDER, C. LUNDSGAARD, D. D. VAN SLYKE, 

 and E. STILLMAN. 



[From the Hospital of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical 

 Research, Neiv York City.] 



The reduction in concentration of plasma proteins observed in 

 a considerable proportion of nephritic patients has been attributed 

 by some authors to a decrease in the amount of plasma proteins 

 in the body, by others to a dilution of the blood with water (hyd- 

 remic plethora). We have made one or more determinations of 

 the blood volume by Keith, Rowntree, and Geraghty's " Vital 

 Red" method on all but three of the patients above reported with 

 reduced plasma protein concentration, and on some others. 



The cause of the reduced protein concentration was found to 

 be not hydremic plethora, but an actual decrease in the amount 

 of plasma proteins in the body. Normal blood volumes were 

 found, even in cases of extreme edema. The amount of total 

 plasma proteins per kilo body weight (the weight being cor- 

 rected as nearly as possible for estimated edema fluid present) 

 however, varied from 1.5 to 3.0 grams, compared with 3.5 grams 

 found in normal individuals. 



