VERHALTEN VON 125 J ALBUMIN IM INTRAVASALRAUM VON QUERSCHNITTSGELAHMTEN

Investigations in 30 paraplegic patients and 10 voluntary controls showed that the albumin elimination rate is significantly higher in paraplegics with the highest values of 35.2 ± 6.5% per hr. in tetraplegic patients than in normal persons (7.6 ± 0.5). This finding could not be explained by immunological mechanisms. There were no antibodies against human albumin in the serum of the patients detected nor positive skin tests. The disappearance curve of homologous and autologous ¹²⁵I albumin according to the antigen elimination technique corresponded without difference to a normal metabolic situation. Clinical criteria (height of the lesion) indicate that a central nervous permeability change may be regarded as the etiologic factor. A chronic pressure sore can accentuate the symptoms by its additional protein loss. These increased albumin elimination rates should therefore be respected in the infusion therapy of paraplegics.