Serial serum protein determinations in scoliotic children treated by spine fusion and autotransfusion

In a longitudinal study, serum protein levels were determined by more than 1200 radial immunodiffusion assays in fifty pediatric scoliotic patients whose blood replacement during spine fusion was provided by predeposition autotransfusion. Several serial samples of serum were obtained at intervals from the time of admission through surgery and discharge and they were examined for eight serum proteins: IgG, IgA, IgM, albumin, transferrin, C3c (B1A globulin), beta-lipoprotein, and alpha2-macroglobulin. The results indicated that neither the three phlebotomies performed to obtain predeposition autologuus blood for reinfusion nor the loss of blood during surgery resulted in significant alteration of any of the serum protein levels at the sampling times tested. The greatest decreases in the serum concentrations of all eight proteins were observed during the early postoperative recovery period.