The half-life of I131 labeled normal human gamma globulin in patients with hepatic cirrhosis.

The half-life of normal human gamma globulin labeled with I131 was determined in sixteen patients with hepatic cirrhosis and in seventeen controls. In the patients with cirrhosis the mean half-life measured 9.1 days, and in the controls it was 13.7 days. This difference was statistically highly significant. These results are interpreted as supporting the concept that the accumulation of gamma globulins in patients with hepatic cirrhosis is due to increased production rather than delayed removal.