Serum protein pattern ininfants with nutritional disorders.

Paper electrophoresis for studying the serum protein pattern is of particular value in infancy because of the small volume of blood required. Despite improved methods of diagnosis and increased knowledge of the aetiology of wasting disorders in infancy, some cases of failure to thrive still present diagnostic difficulties. Cases in which diarrhoea, respiratory infection and wasting are associated are common, and in many such cases investigation of pancreatic function shows this to be depressed. After suitable treatment, which may include pancreatin, these infants are found on reinvestigation to have normal pancreatic function. Fibrocystic disease of the pancreas can then be excluded. The present investigation was undertaken to find out if the serum protein pattern would be of any diagnostic value in wasted infants in whom the exact diagnosis was in doubt.