STUDIES IN CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER. I. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLASMA VOLUME, PLASMA PROTEIN CONCENTRATIONS AND TOTAL CIRCULATING PROTEINS

Abstract

Simultaneous determinations of plasma volumes and the various plasma protein concns. in patients with advanced Laennec''s cirrhosis of the liver indicate that such patients have sustained high plasma volumes due to an extensive collateral vascular bed, that normal quantities of total circulating albumin are frequently found in the presence of subnormal concns. of albumin, and that clinical improvement of the patient can be correlated with ability to maintain a normal quantity of total circulating albumin. Concns. of total protein, albumin, globulin and fibrinogen and total circulating quantities of total protein, globulin and fibrinogen could not be correlated with improvement of the patient. 12 patients with 83 successive detns. form the basis of the report.