26. Premature Infants Treated with Human Albumin

Abstract

Summary Total serum protein content was determined in the cord blood of 79 premature infants. There was a tendecy for the serum protein values to rise with the birth weight and gestational age. Boys had, on average, lower serum protein values than girls. 31 infants with serum protein content less than 5 g/100 ml were treated with albumin solution, 2 g per kg of body weight intravenously, on the first day of life. 27 infants, serving as controls, were not treated with albumin. The two groups showed the same frequency of “respiratory distress”. One infant died in connection with the administration of albumin.