The blood serum protein fractions of 138 children with tuberculosis were analyzed by paper electrophoresis serially over a period of many months. Many manifestations of tuberculous infection were studied. The group was divided into 11 categories ranging from healed or arrested tuberculous disease to various stages of activity. The serum protein fractions were evaluated in terms of prognosis, type of tuberculous disease, effect of intercurrent infection and age of patient. It was found that the greatest changes occurred in the gamma-globulin and albumin fractions in reciprocal relation. With the exception of tuberculous meningitis, the increase in gamma-globulin usually corresponded to the severity of disease. Albumin was correspondingly decreased, and was low even in tuberculous meningitis. Both fractions approached normal levels as the patients improved. Relatively normal readings were found in patients with tuberculosis observation or arrested tuberculosis. The greatest deviation from normal was seen in patients with miliary tuberculosis and those with pleurisy with effusion. Here, the gamma and alpha2-globulins were very high and the serum albumin was low. The alpha2 fraction was elevated in the children with more severe disease, including tuberculous meningitis; with clinical improvement it returned to normal more rapidly than the gamma. A rise in the beta-globulin fraction suggests caseation. Confirmatory evidence was obtained in patients with endobronchial disease, tuberculous adenitis and from the only necropsy in the series. The significant changes in the various fractions are further described and discussed.
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January 1961
