Electrophoretic Changes in Plasma Proteins in Patients with Pneumococcic Infections

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Abstract
During 1946 23 patients with pneumococcic infections were studied with respect to serial changes in electrophoretic patterns of the plasma proteins. Four patients had primary meningitis, and 19 had primary pneumonia; all but 4 also had pre-existing complications. Electrophoresis was carried out in the tall form of the Tiselius cell, in diethylbarbituric acid buffer of pH 8.5 and ionic strength of 0.1. The results were oriented in regard to type of infection, age of patient, history of alcoholism, and duration of illness as well as type of therapy. The important alterations in plasma proteins were rather prompt increments in alpha-globulins and fib-rinogen which showly declined during convalescence. Progressive hypoalbuminemia, reaching the lowest levels in the 2d week of the infection, gradually was restored towards normal by the end of a month. The severity of the hypoalbuminemia was enhanced by factors which adversely influenced liver function, as malnutrition, chronic alcoholism, cirrhosis and chronic passive congestion. Gamma globulin concns. were abnormally low in 2 patients, restored towards normal by the intramusc. injn. of 50 ml. of immune human gamma globulin, and tended to show a relative increase in the other patients. Further analysis of the benefits of gamma globulin, in addition to routine therapy, were inconclusive.

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