Serial serum total protein values in premature infants with and without the respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract

Serial serum total protein determinations were made at specific time intervals onfull-term and premature infants with and without RDS to determine whether the initial total protein or changing protein pattern with age could be used as a diagnostic or prognostic tool. Full-term infants had higher serum protein values than premature infants; normal premature infants had higher values than those with RDS. Premature infants with RDS had a significant drop in serum total protein concentration between 1 1/2 and 6 hours of age; normal premature and full-term infants did not have a significant drop at that time.