Albumin to ascites: demonstration of a direct pathway bypassing the systemic circulation

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Abstract

The transport of plasma albumin and newly made albumin into ascitic fluid was studied in eight patients with cirrhosis and ascites. The thoracic duct was cannulated in two patients and lymph collected over a period of 2 hr. Simultaneously albumin-131I and carbonate-14C were injected intravenously. The albumin-131I measured the transfer of plasma albumin into ascites and into thoracic duct lymph. The carbonate-14C, by labeling newly formed albumin, permitted the estimation of the transfer of newly formed albumin into plasma, ascites, and lymph.

Authors

D. S. Zimmon, M. Oratz, R. Kessler, S. S. Schreiber, M. A. Rothschild