Metabolism Studies in Jaundice. 



143 



These experiments were performed before the recent judicial 

 decision in Pennsylvania upon experimentation. 



87 (904) 



Metabolism studies in a case of congenital hemolytic jaundice 

 with splenomegaly. 



By James P. McKelvy, M.D., 



and 



Jacob Rosenbloom, M.D., Ph.D. 



[From the Laboratory of James P. McKelvy, M.D., Pittsburgh, Pa.] 



In a case of congenital hemolytic jaundice with splenomegaly, 

 we have found in a metabolism experiment of five days, on the 

 Folin diet, a loss of 4.06 grammes of nitrogen, while the urinary 

 nitrogen partition was normal in character, with the exception of 

 the uric acid nitrogen, which was increased. The absorption of 

 nitrogen was normal. 



The urinary sulphur partition was normal in character with 

 occasional increased excretions of ethereal sulphates. In the 

 five days, there was a loss of 18.8 grammes of sulphur, 0.482 

 grammes of calcium oxide and 0.924 grammes of magnesium oxide. 

 There was a phosphorus retention of 0.07 grammes, while the 

 amounts of earthy phosphates and total phosphates may be con- 

 sidered normal. 



There was a loss of 0.1199 grammes of iron, with marked 

 increased amounts of iron excreted in the urine and feces. The 

 fat metabolism was normal, with an absorption of about 91 per 

 cent, of the ingested fat. The amounts of neutral Jat, fatty acids 

 and soaps in the stool were normal. 



A marked disturbance in the cholesterol metabolism was found, 

 and the hypothesis is advanced that a lack of cholesterol in the 

 blood serum may account for the increased hemolysis; and the 

 splenomegaly may play some r61e in the cause of this condition. 



Urobilin and urobilinogen were present in the urine and feces, 

 while bilirubin and hemoglobin were absent. 



