Maternal plasma, blood and extracellular water volume at 34 to 38-week gestation and their influence on the neonatal body compartments at birth - abstract

Measurements of plasma volume (PV) and extra-cellular water volume (ECW) were performed on 13 pregnant Curacaoan women between 34 and 38 week gestation. Maternal PV and ECW were measured simultaneously, using a double indicator (Evan's blue/Sucrose) single injection dilution technique. Mean maternal PV and blood volume (BV) per kg bodyweight was 45 and 67.5 ml respectively. Mean ECW was 226.5 ml/kg which includes the ECW of the foetus, amniotoc fluid and placenta. The calculated corrected mean maternal ECW (mECW), excluding the products of conception, was 203.0 ml/kg. From all infants delivered by these mothers, total body water volume (TBW), ECw and PV were simultaneously measured, on the first day of life, using a triple-indicator (sucrose/D20/Evans' blue), single injection dilution technique. No relationship was observed between the measured maternal compartments at 34 -38 weeks and any of the determined body compartments of their infants, who were born some weeks later. No relationship was observed between the Maternal PV at 34 - 38 weeks and the neonatal birthweight (AU)

Water distribution (total body water and extracellular water) and plasma-volume in Curacaoan newborn infants measured by a triple indicator method - abstract

The postnatal weight loss of normal Curacaoan term infants is approximately 4-5 per cent of the birth weight whereas the average Caucasian term infant will lose ñ 10 percent of the birthweight. As part of a study to investigate the influence of the neonatal body (water) compartments on the postnatal weight loss, the "water distribution" (the total body water, extracellular water), and the plasma volume in a group of 13 Curacaoan neonates were measured simultaneously, using a triple indicator (deuterium oxide, sucrose and evans blue), single injection dilution technique. The high precision of the method used to determine extracellular water volume (ECW) allows the use of very small samples in the neonates. Mean neonatal total body water volume (75.1 percent) on the first day use of life in this group of term Curacaoan in fants corresponds to values presented in other studies. However, the distribution of the total water volume between the intracellular (43.9 percent) and extracellular (31.1 percent) space showed, in comparison with studies in term-AGA infants from other countries, an increased proportion of total water occupied by the intracellular compartment at the expense of the extracellular space (AU)

The relationship between intracellular and extracellular potassium in normal and malnourished subjects as studied in leukocytes

Leukocyte potassium has been measured in normal subjects and in malnourished children with and without edema both on admission and during recovery. In nonedematous malnourished children the potassium content was low (328mmol/kg dry solids) and took 2-3 weeks of rehabilitation to return to normal (374 mmol/kg dry solids). Leukocytes from edematous children had normal intracellular potassium values. However, 5 days on a maintenance diet reduced the intracellular potassium in the children with kwashiorkor to a value similar to that found in marasmus. Plasma potassium was significantly lower in kwashiorkor (3.43) than in marasmus (4.74). The relationship between external potassium and internal potassium in normal leukocytes was measured (fig.1) and the values found severe malnutrition compared with normal. It was found that in nonedematous malnutrition intracellular potassium was low compared to the predicted value, whereas in kwashiorkor, although the mean values were normal, no relationship between external potassium and intracellular potassium could be demonstrated. It is concluded that in the leukocyte malnutrition alters either the passive permeability of the membrane to potassium or the active transport of potassium of both.(AU)

Total body water, extracellular, and plasma volume compartments in sickle cell anaemia

The total body water (TBW), plasma (PV) and extracellular fluid volumes (ECFV) of twenty-nine subjects with sickle cell anaemia, ten of whom were in painful crisis, were studied. During asymtomatic periods (the steady state), the ECFV of subjects with the anaemia is increased when compared with normal controls, because of plasma volume expansion; the interstitial fluid volume (ISFV) is normal, and intra cellular water (ICFV) is diminished by 5 percent of weight. During painful crisis, there was a marked tendency to loss of plasma volume into the interstitial fluid compartment, and the data also suggested that there was acute cellular distruction. Most of the patients in this study managed, however, presumably by compensatory changes in renal function and fluid intake, to maintain a normal plasma volume during painful crisis (AU)

Studies on total body potassium in infantile malnutrition: the relation to body fluid spaces and urinary creatinine - abstract

Twenty-eight malnourished children were studied on admission to hospital and during therapy and recovery. Measurements of total body potassium, body fluid compartments and 24-hr urinary creatinine were made. Total body potassium was low in almost all malnourished children, but was lower in those children with clinical oedema. There was a significant decrease in concentration of potassium in intracellular water in malnutrition. The concentration of intracellular potassium was linearly correlated with the total body potassium. Total body water was increased initially and fell with recovery. This increase was borne by the extracellular fluid. The increase in extracellular fluid was correlated with the reduction in total body potassium as well as with the weight deficit. Total body potassium was linearly related to the 24-hr urinary creatinine. Calculations of the contribution of muscle potassium to total body potassium from the creatinine data lead to the conclusion that in children recovering from malnutrition, alterations in muscle protein turnover alter the figures usually given for the relationship of urinary creatinine to muscle mass. The relationships between total body potassium, body weight and height are presented. Height bore a stronger relationship to the total body potassium than did the cube of the height (AU)