Bisalbuminemia in two Croatian families

Background. Bisalbuminemia is a dysproteinemia characterized by the occurre nce of two albumin fractions on serum protein separation by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate sheets. Bisalbuminemia mag, occur as a hereditary tra it or as analytical interference with some drugs, especially penicillin. Methods. Two patients with the finding of bisalbuminemia are presented. Bot h patients (patient 1 was a 4-1/2-month-old male infant, and patient 2 was a 15-year-old boy) were admitted for respiratory infection. Results. Bisalbuminemia was detected by serum protein electrophoresis and c onfirmed by isoelectric focusing in pH gradient gel (pH range 4.0-6.5). Thi s finding was supported by simultaneous detection of abnormal albumin in th e mother of patient 1, while the father had normal albumin. The abnormal fa st albumin in both patients had an increased relative mobility of 1.08 when measured from the sample application position. Conclusions. The results presented rue the first description of albumin mut ations in Croatia (that according to the CISMEL group could be classified a s ZC/HZ), and present the first step in identification prior to determinati on of structural change and amino acid sequence in the albumin molecule. (C ) 2001 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.