Exchange transfusions with concentrated ACD-blood. II. Effects on bilirubin, total protein, chloride, phosphate, calcium, magnesium and potassium.

During ten exchange transfusions with ACD-blood (NIH, sol. B), newborn infants' bilirubin, plasma protein and electrolyte gain or loss were studied quantitatively. The loss of bilirubin was closely correlated to the pre-exchange bilirubin concentration. On the average, there was a significant loss of plasma chloride of 3.21 mmol per kg bodyweight. There were no significant gains or losses of plasma protein or sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium of whole blood during the ET. There was a calculated significant inflow of whole blood calcium from the extravascular space of 0.02 mmol per kg bodyweight together with a calculated significant increase of plasma phosphate of 0.06 mmol per kg bodyweight.