1 The Department of Pediatrics, New York University College of Medicine, New York City.
Forty-four measurements of the concentrations of total serum protein determined by a Kjeldahl procedure and of albumin, alpha 1, alpha 2, beta and gamma globulins determined electrophoretically in the serum of 27 premature infants ranging in age from 7 hours to 65 days are reported.
Wide variations in all values are evident in individual cases. Certain trends are nevertheless apparent. During the first 5 to 6 weeks there is a gradual decline in the concentrations of total serum protein, albumin and gamma globulins. The alpha and beta globulins show no trend with age in this study.
Except for slightly higher values for alpha 1 globulins in the smaller infants, none of the concentrations could be correlated with the birth weights of the patients.
Submitted on June 13, 1952