Protein content of liver lymph in patients with portal hypertension secondary to hepatic cirrhosis.

Protein content of liver lymph was measured in 14 patients with portal hypertension secondary to advanced hepatic cirrhosis. An abnormally low concentration was found in each patient, averaging 52% of plasma levels. This finding reflects a decreased sinusoidal permeability to protein, the possible effect of "capillarization of the sinusoid" and may bear on development of portal congestion.