Analysis of protein constituents in the ascitic and pleural fluids

Abstract

This investigation has been performed to detect the individual variances in protein components of the ascitic or pleural fluids obtained from 151 cases of various disorders.Quantitative determination of fibrinogen, α1-acid glycoprotein and IgG in the fluids was made by the single radial immunodiffusion method. Fibrinogen and its degradation product increased in parallel with the proliferation of cancer cells in the serous cavities, on the other hand, the increase of α1-acid glycoprotein reflected the histopathological classification of cancers.The immunoelectrophoretic analysis performed with the specific anti-human fibrinogen antiserum demonstrated the increase of fibrinogen degradation products in the ascitic and pleural fluids. The reaction patterns of fibrinogen and its derivatives were classified into five types and their relation to the morphological findings of cellular components was investigated. The majority of cancerous fluids was involved in Type 4 and 5 which revealed two distinct lines closer to the cathode. The cancer cell-negative transudates belonged to Type 1 or 2, forming very weak patterns and most of inflammatory effusions to Type 3.Fibrinolytic activity determined by the fibrin plate method showed a marked variety in each fluid. Based on the comparison of cytological pictures in active and in negative cases of fibrinolysis, it was suggested that the proliferation of macrophages correlated with the increase of fibrinolytic activity.It may be assumed that the immunological analysis and estimation of several protein components in the ascitic and pleural fluids are of help to the differentiation of cancerous and other disorders.