Effects of hypoproteinemia on blood volume and arterial pressure of volume-loaded dogs.

Studies were performed in 14 conscious, anephric dogs to clarify the role of blood volume in the genesis of hypertension. The dogs were splenectomized and had plasma protein concentration (PPC) reduced to 2.7 g/dl by daily plasmapheresis for 9 days. This hypoproteinemia resulted in a 20% decrease in both blood volume and mean arterial pressure. On the 10th day the dogs were nephrectomized. On the 11th day after a 3-h control period with plasmapheresis, lactated Ringer equivalent to 10 or 20% of body weight was intravenously infused. By 25 h postinfusion blood volume had not increased, and the dogs were still hypotensive. At 25 h plasma protein mass was returned to normal by intravenous infusion of autologous plasma, the average blood volume of the three low PPC groups increased approximately 50%, and the arterial pressure increased greater than 60%. The decrease in PPC shifted the regression of blood volume on sodium space down the blood volume axis. In conclusion, the dependence of arterial pressure on blood volume was demonstrated by the decrease in both blood volume and arterial pressure after PPC reduction, the constancy of blood volume and pressure during Ringer infusion, and the increase in both volume and pressure after plasma infusion.