Studies on gastrointestinal plasma protein loss in extensive skin disease

Abstract

The gastrointestinal loss of plasma protein was determined in 9 patients with extensive skin disease. 51CrCl3 was used as the test substance in 5 patients and [131I]albumin in 4 patients. The fecal isotope excretion was within the normal limits in all patients, though they had hypoalbuminaemia and increased initial disappearance rate of tracer albumin, presumably reflecting an abnormal leakiness of the microvasculature. It is concluded that loss of albumin through the gut does not account for the depressed plasma albumin concentration in these patients.