STUDIES WITH SPUTUM .3. PAPER ELECTROPHORESIS AND GEL DIFFUSION OF SPUTUM IN DIAGNOSIS OF PULMONARY CARCINOMATOSIS - IDENTIFICATION OF FAST-MOVING COMPONENT AS ALBUMIN

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Abstract
Warfvinge''s detection by paper electrophoresis of an albumin component in sputum is confirmed. Sputum samples (104) obtained from 58 patients, whose sputum was referred to the cytology laboratories of the Barnes Hospital were subjected to paper electrophoresis. Nineteen of the patients yielded positive electropherograms on one or more specimens, 9 of which were positive for carcinoma of the lung. Twelve of the 19 patients had strongly positive reactions, and 4 of the 12 were proved to have carcinoma; these 4 patients comprised 45% of the 9 proved cases that were not metastatic or peripheral in location. Of 10 unproved cases in patients who had positive results on electrophoresis, 5 could be considered definitely noncarcinomatous and, in the main, these patients suffered from inflammatory disease of the lungs. Of the 5 proved carcinomas which were negative on electrophoresis, 2 were of peripheral location, 2 were metastatic tumors, and one sputum specimen only was obtained in the 5th case. The technique of gel diffusion with rabbit antihuman-serum-albumin is described, and proved to be one hundred times more sensitive than paper electrophoresis as a means of detecting the albumin in sputum. The suggestion is made that the technique may prove useful as a screening procedure in the diagnosis of pulmonary carcinoma.

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