Plasma protein biosynthesis following laparotomy and partial hepatectomy.

Abstract

SummaryPartial hepatectomy resulted in an increase in the relative synthetic rates (RSR) of albumin, fibrinogen, and the seromucoid fraction which extended over a period of at least 14 days following the operation. The response of the seromucoid fraction showed a biphasic pattern; an early marked increase closely related to the initial stress and a less marked secondary response. The response of albumin was less dramatic than that of the other fractions and showed no evidence of a biphasic character.Laparotomy caused an increase in the RSR of the seromucoid and fibrinogen fractions but had no effect on albumin synthesis. The patterns of response for fibrinogen and the seromucoid fraction following laparotomy were different from those following partial hepatectomy; RSR values were back to normal by 8 days and the secondary wave of seromucoid synthesis was absent.