Studies on Hypoalbuminemia Produced by Protein-Deficient Diets

It proved possible to correct dietary hypoalbuminemia in dogs by large plasma transfusions (about 50 cc. per kilo per day). After 1 week of injections the increase of plasma protein exceeded the normal level although but 10 to 13 per cent of the injected protein remained in the blood. There was an associated increase in plasma volume and a marked diuresis. During the following 2 weeks the plasma volume and protein returned to their previous low levels. 2. The nitrogen introduced was retained and produced no change in urinary excretion during the week of plasma injections, but in the following 2 weeks there was an increased nitrogen output. The inference would seem to be that the large amounts of plasma injected in these experiments were not permanently utilized by the body as nitrogenous nourishment but after some delay were largely excreted in the urine.