Further studies on plasma proteins, lipids, and dye- and drug-binding in a child with analbuminemia.
A previously reported patient with analbuminemia was re-investigated after 4 1/2 years, at age 6. The serum albumin concentration was 150 mg/L by radioimmunoassay. Most of the observed increase in total plasma protein over the 4 1/2 years was attributable to gamma-globulin. Concentrations of total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were increased; the esterified:free ratio and the lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity were both normal. Albumin is apparently not essential for binding of lysolecithin generated by the acyltransferase-catalyzed reaction. The binding of bromphenol blue suggested that analbuminemic serum has about 25% of normal binding capacity for bilirubin (more than expected in a patient with analbuminemia), which may explain why newborns with this disorder do not develop kernicterus. Binding by the patient's plasma of diazepam (1020 mg/L) and warfarin (1040 mg/L), which bind primarily to albumin, as well as of propranolol (1.05 g/L), which binds primarily to alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, was also studied. The proportions of free diazepam (14.4%) and warfarin (4.8%) were about 10-fold normal. In contrast, the proportion of propranolol in the free form was decreased (4.5%). Evidently, other plasma proteins are partly compensating for the deficiency of albumin.
D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001978:Bromphenol Blue / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003975:Diazepam / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000097:blood; D011433:Propranolol / Q000097:blood; D011485:Protein Binding; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis / Q000172:deficiency*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000097:blood
D001798:Blood Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D012709:Serum Albumin; D001978:Bromphenol Blue; D014859:Warfarin; D011433:Propranolol; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase; D003975:Diazepam