The Effect of Nutritional Hypoproteinemia on the Electrolyte Pattern and Calcium Concentration of Serum

Previous work (1) showed t,hat when the concentration of plasma proteins is reduced by plasmapheresis, the concentration of serum protein varied inversely with the chloride and directly with the calcium, while no relation could be demonstrated between protein and total base or bicarbonat,e. The experiments were open to the serious object,ion that plasmapheresis involves the injection of a solution of sodium chloride as well as repeated bleeding. Hence changes in electrolyte were referable to these procedures as well as to variations in serum protein concentration. While an attempt to control the effect of the injection of physiological saline solution was made, the experimental method was not that best adapted to a study of the relation of the concentrations of electrolyte and serum protein. In this paper similar dat,a are presented from dogs in which serum protein was lowered by diets deficient in protein.