BINDING OF BROMSULPHTHALEIN BY SERUM ALBUMIN FROM PREGNANT WOMEN, NEONATES AND SUBJECTS ON ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES

Abstract

Equilibrium dialysis of bromsulphthalein (b.s.p.) against serum revealed that significantly more molecules of b.s.p. were bound per molecule of albumin in serum taken from pregnant patients and from cord blood than in serum from male and female controls. Serum from subjects taking oral contraceptives gave results midway between the two extremes. Further investigations, and re-evaluation of the results, showed that the differences could in part be explained by the variations in serum albumin concentration. There appeared also to be a difference between the serum albumin from male and female controls and that from pregnant patients, cord blood and subjects on oral contraceptives, which was independent of the variability in albumin concentration. The implications of these findings in evaluating the results of b.s.p. tests of liver function are discussed.