The role of plasma proteins in chronic expansion of plasma volume in tropical splenomegally syndrome II. The metabolism of 131I-Labelled IgG

Metabolic studies using 181I-labelled outologous IgG have been performed in 14 adult New Guineans suffering from tropical splenomegaly syndrome, each of whom had at least Grade III splenomegaly. Synthesis rates were elevated in all subjects and despite shortened half-lives, marked increases in both intravascular and extravascular IgG pools were observed in most subjects. There was a significant positive correlation between synthesis rate and plasma volume, indicating that in this disease overproduction of IgG is in part responsible for the expansion of plasma volume which is commonly seen.