Bilirubin displacing effect of stabilizers added to injectable preparations of human serum albumin.

Stabilizers added to preparations of human serum albumin before heat treatment were tested for bilirubin displacing effect, using the peroxidase method. It was found that N-acetyltryptophan and sodium caprylate displace bilirubin from its complex with human serum albumin in vitro. The quantitative findings were used for a rough estimate of the effect of these substances on the free bilirubin concentration in blood plasma, expected when stabilized albumin preparations are given intravenously for prevention of kernicterus. The calculated effect is a delay of the decrease of free bilirubin concentration, or even a temporary increase. Sodium mandelate displaces less strongly.