1 The Blood Grouping Laboratory, 332 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
It appears that Dr. Strober and I disagree on the implications of the word "cause" (Pediatrics, 44:144, 1969). The paper in question did not even consider the possibility that some other factor(s) could result in increased blood volume and decreased albumin synthesis concurrently. One possible third factor is the acute inflammatory response. If such be the case, even normal albumin synthesis may represent a compensatory response to the hypervolemia.
The arguments in Dr. Strober's reply are based, in part, on the speculation that the liver is incapable of producing albumin at a rate much above the normal, resting rate.