VAMPIRE SYNDROME - SERUM-PROTEIN AND LIPID ABNORMALITIES RELATED TO FREQUENT SALE OF PLASMA

The sale of plasma for profit has become a common occurrence. In the U nited States, a healthy individual carl donate as frequently as six ti mes per month and up to 60 L of plasma per year. Although plasma donor s are generally healthy, intervening conditions can increase the catab olism or decrease the synthesis of certain serum constituents and ther eby produce a confusing clinical picture. In 1 month, we encountered t wo patients who presented with hypoalbuminemia and hypocholesterolemia for which there was no obvious cause except a history of frequent pla sma sales.