Polarography of blood serums and of serum mucoproteins

Abstract

We have summarized the main results of a series of studies, started in 1945, referring to the polarography of blood serums and its clinical applications. These studies have been realized by teams of our Laboratory and other investigators who, independantly from us, have worked on the same problem, and whose conclusions are in connection with ours.

From these research works, the following conclusions can be reached :

1.º Time and temperature of incubation, as well as addition of substances with —SH groups, helps, (within certain limits), the increase of the polarographic curve height produced by the sulphosalicylic fíltrate.

2.º When the seromucoproteins are separated, or if a alkaline denaturalization of the serum takes place, the mucoproteins involved produce the typical wave, although their concentration in the sulphosalicylic fíltrate is inferior than in the serum.

3.º The difference of heights between the pathological and normal serum (increased by some treatments, such as Progressive alkaline denaturation, incubation with glutathione at 37° etc.) makes this method useful in the diagnosis of cancer, in spite of its lack of strict specificity.