FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON SERUM PROTEINS IN RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME OF NEWBORN

Proteins in the serum, urine, and faeces of normal premature infants were compared with those of infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) using electrophoresis on cellulose acetate, immunoplates, and column chromatography on dextran gel (Sephadex G200). Infants with RDS had abnormally low concentrations of all serum proteins. The proportion of IgG relative to the other serum proteins was significantly less than normal. The presence of an ot-fetoprotein in the serum was strongly associated with RDS. The protein content of urine and faeces was similar in infants with RDS and normal premature infants.