Metabolism and distribution of I131-labelled albumin in pigs with gastrointestinal disease.

The turnover of I-albumin has been studied in two sows with hypertrophic gastritis (Hyostrongylus rubidus infestation) and in three pigs with terminal ileitis. The sows showed few characteristic digestive symptoms and their albumin turnover data were essentially normal (Table 1). Pigs with terminal ileitis showed more active symptoms of gastrointestinal disease (diarrhea). Albumin turnover rates were greatly accelerated, with daily degradations of nearly 50 % of the vascular albumin pool (Table 2). It is concluded that the pattern of albumin metabolism in pigs with gastrointestinal disease is related to the actual clinical phase of the disease rather than to pathoanatomical lesions (hypertrophy etc.). The pathophysiological features determining the clinical picture are, accordingly, of great importance.