serum protein electrophoresis


serum protein electrophoresis

A method for determining protein homeostasis in the body. Serum proteins are divided into prealbumin/albumin, alpha1, alpha2, beta and gamma zones; regions of the SPEP are increased or decreased in specific conditions, or vary according to gene polymorphisms.

serum protein electrophoresis

A method for determining protein 'homeostasis'; serum proteins are divided into prealbumin/albumin, α1 and α2, β, and γ zones; regions of the SPEP are ↑ or ↓ in certain conditions, or variable with gene polymorphisms Serum protein electrophoresis Fraction Clinical conditions Normal–6.5-8.0 g/dL
↑ Dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, myeloma, respiratory distress syndrome ↓ Burns, cancer–GI tract, liver disease, malnutrition, malabsorption, renal failure, ulcerative colitis ↓ Prealbumin ↓ Functional hepatic mass, inflammation, malnutrition Albumin–4.0-6.0 g/dL
↑ Dehydration, exercise   Burns, cancer–GI tract, CHF, eclampsia, ↑ extracellular volume, inflammation, liver disease, malignancy, malnutrition, malabsorption, nephrotic syndrome, renal failure, SLE, ulcerative colitis α1 –0.1-0.5 g/dL
↑ antitrypsin Inflammation, hepatocellular injury, malignancy, pregnancy, necrosis ↓ antitrypsin Deficient allelle causing emphysema ± antitrypsin Polymorphism of α1antitrypsin α2 –0.4-1.0 g/dL
↑ macroglobulin Biliary cirrhosis, burns, malignancy, inflammation, acute MI, nephrotic syndrome, rheumatic fever, selective proteinuria in age extremes ↑ haptoglobulin Inflammation ↓ haptoglobulin Hemolysis, hepatosplenic sequestration, liver disease Total β–0.3-1.2 g/dL
β ↑ transferrin Iron deficiency, estrogens ↓ transferrin Malnutrition, burns, inflammation ↓ lipoprotein Hypercholesterolemia ± Polymorphisms of transferrin β2 ↑ C3 Chronic inflammation, bile obstruction ↑ IgA Malignancy, infection of mucosal surfaces, rheumatoid arthritis, ethanol, cirrhosis ↓ C3 Complement activation ± C3 Polymorphism of C3 γ–0.4-1.0 g/dL
↑ Collagen vascular disease, inflammation, monoclonal antibody production, polyclonal stimulation, SLE ↓ Hypogammaglobulinemia, nephrotic syndrome