Treatment of Nephrosis With Concentrated Human Serum Albumin. Ii. Effects on Renal Function and on Excretion of Water and Some Electrolytes 123

The administration of concentrated human se- rum albumin to patients with the nephrotic syn- drome is followed by an effective diuresis in approximately one-half of the treated cases (1-4). Previous reports (3, 5) indicate that the injected albumin is diluted by extracellular fluid to ap- proximately the original level of plasma protein concentration until diuresis occurs. Replacement of the normal total amount of circulating albumin does not regularly ensure a return to normal con- ditions. The plasma proteins can be concentrated to normal levels only after elimination of most of the edema.