PLASMA PROTEIN AND PLASMA COLLOID OSMOTIC PRESSURE IN PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE OCCURRENCE OF EDEMA 1

Abstract

A comparison of the plasma proteins and the plasma colloid osmotic pressure (PCOP) was made on 10 normals and 42 hospital patients. Of the latter 19 were cases of renal disease, 16 having edema. The PCOP of the normal subjects varied between 29 and 36 cm. of plasma. The edema of nephritis (not complicated with cardiac disease) is generally accompanied by a lowering of both the plasma protein and the PCOP. Values for the PCOP as low as 9 cm. were encountered. When the PCOP attained a value of 19 to 20 cm. plasma or more, edema was generally absent. Exceptions to this rule were observed in 2 cases of acute glomerulonephritis.