Definition of serum proteins
The proteins are in some ways the essential building blocks of our cells; they play a role in all the reactions of the body.
There are more than a hundred different proteins circulating in the blood, although albumin accounts for 60% of them.
In addition to transporting many substances (hormones, lipids, etc.), blood proteins are involved in coagulation, immunity, maintenance of blood pressure, and so on.
It is possible to perform a total serum protein assay, which provides information on the functioning of many organs.
Why do serum protein analysis?
The analysis of serum proteins (serum) is useful in many situations to guide diagnosis, specify the severity of a disease or monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
It is a very common examination that can assess the function of certain organs (liver, kidneys) and highlight certain abnormalities (inflammatory syndrome, autoimmune diseases, lymphoma, etc.).
Thus, this dosage may be prescribed, inter alia, in the case of:
- inflammatory syndrome
- alteration of the general condition
- CBC abnormalities (blood test)
- unexplained bone or joint pain
- liver problems
- renal failure
What results can we expect from a serum protein analysis?
The serum or plasma proteins are measured by electrophoresis, after a simple blood test: the blood (serum) is placed in an electric field, which “migrates” the proteins. They separate according to their electrical charge and their weight, which makes it possible to distinguish them from each other and to identify anomalies.
This assay is usually performed at the same time as other basic tests, such as blood count or sedimentation rate. Indeed, the level of proteins in the blood (protidemia) does not only depend on the proteins, but also on the blood volume (the dilution may be greater or smaller).
What results can we expect from a serum protein analysis?
As an indication, the normal value of total serum proteins is between 65 and 80 grams / L. The albumin/globulin ratio is between 1.2 and 1.8.
An increase in total plasma protein (hyperproteinemia) is observed in many situations, such as dehydration (“heat stroke”, diarrhea, vomiting) or during various diseases such as myeloma that cause an increase in the mass of circulating proteins.
Decreases in total protein concentration (hypoproteinemia) may be caused by a lack of intake (malnutrition) or a lack of absorption, a lack of synthesis (liver failure), abnormal loss of kidney or by water overload (hemodilution).
The electrophoretic analysis shows the distribution of the main blood proteins and traces a characteristic “profile”, which can be interpreted by the doctor.
Thus, in the case of an inflammatory syndrome, for example, the “pattern” will be typical, showing an increase in alpha-globulins and a decrease in albumin.
The increase in beta-globulins, meanwhile, may mean the presence of iron deficiency, hypothyroidism or biliary obstruction.
The nephrotic syndrome (kidney dysfunction) will be characterized by hypoalbuminemia and hyperalphaglobulinemia.
Only the nephrologist in Delhi will be able to identify an abnormal line and prescribe the case of complementary examinations to make a diagnosis.