beta-gamma bridge

beta-gamma bridge

An elongating of the usually well-defined peaks in the beta and gamma regions in a Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEs), which occurs in chronic liver disease, classically in alcoholic liver disease, as well as in chronic infections and connective-tissue disease; it is due to polyclonal production of proteins that migrate in the region, which may “bury” small monoclonal expansions, or the clone may produce polymeric forms of a protein, resulting in differences in electrophoretic mobility, causing a “pseudo-polyclonal” expansion.
 
Beta-migrating proteins
Transferrin and beta-lipoprotein.
 
Gamma-migrating proteins
IgG, IgA, IgM.

beta-gamma bridge

Immunology A 'spanning' of the usually well-defined peaks in the β and γ regions in an SPEP which occurs in chronic liver disease, classically in alcoholic liver disease, as well as in chronic infections and connective tissue disease, and is due to polyclonal production of proteins that migrate in the region, which may 'bury' small monoclonal expansions. See serum protein electrophoresis.