Abstract
The 2 patients reported in the previous paper were studied from the standpoint of the effects of displacements of their blood acid-base balance on nitrogen balance, plasma proteins and edema. They were given known diets containing 1400 calories and enough vegetable proteins to secure nitrogen balance. The salt and water intake was kept approximately constant. Alkalosis was produced by the administration of sodium bicarbonate 12 to 20 gm. per day for one to two 4-day periods, and acidosis by 10% hydrochloric acid 30 cc. per day for 3 days or ammonium chloride 8 gm. per day for 4 or 5 days. There were altogether 3 experiments with alkali, one experiment with hydrochloric acid and one experiment with ammonium chloride with each individual. The results can be summarized as follows:
With each alkali administration, there was definite increase in edema with increase in body weight reaching a maximum within 3 or 4 days. Thereafter the edema began to subside and weight began to decrease in spite of continued alkali ingestion. With hydrochloric acid edema showed a slight diminution in Case 1 and remained unchanged in Case 2. The ingestion of ammonium chloride, however, resulted in a decrease of edema and weight in both cases.
The nitrogen balance in either case remained undisturbed with alkali or acid administration. The plasma proteins showed a slight lowering during several of the periods of alkali administration, but practically no change during the remainder. The variations in plasma proteins during acid periods were slight and inconsistent.
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