Alterations in serum protein levels in acute human poliomyelitis: Rationale for therapy.

Serial determinations of serum protein levels in acute human poliomyelitis revealed a progressive drop of the serum albumin level which bore close relationship to the amount of clinical paralysis. This loss of serum albumin began about the third day after onset of clinical symptoms and progressed to the tenth day or longer. The more severe the clinical involvement, the less was the tendency to spontaneous correction of the albumin deficiency. Declining serum albumin levels were concomitant with progressively rising serum globulin values. When pooled irradiated human blood plasma was administered, the depleted serum albumin levels were stabilized or made to approach normal, depending upon the severity of clinical involvement. It is felt that the administration of blood plasma resulted in definite clinical benefit with regard to the severity, extent, and duration of paralysis.