Abstract
The metabolism of 131I-labelled albumin was studied in seven patients with acute infectious liver diseases. The procedure included daily whole-body counting. Four patients had a decreased concentration of albumin in serum.
In three of these patients and in one with a normal albumin concentration the plasma volume per cm body height was increased. The intravascular mass of albumin per cm body height was normal in five patients, slightly increased in one, and decreased in one. The fractional catabolic rate was slightly increased in two subjects and normal in the remaining patients. Five subjects had a normal rate of albumin synthesis related to body height. The patient with a decreased intravascular albumin mass had a decreased rate of synthesis. The patient with an increased total exchangeable albumin mass had an increased rate of synthesis. The metabolic data were not significantly correlated with any other liver function tests. Thus in six out of seven patients the albumin metabolism was little affected by the liver disease.