Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Protein electrophoresis - serum

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Lipoprotein electrophoresis


Normal Values
  • Total protein: 6.4 to 8.3 g/dL
  • Albumin: 3.5 to 5.0 g/dL
  • Alpha-1 globulin: 0.1 to 0.3 g/dL
  • Alpha-2 globulin: 0.6 to 1.0 g/dL
  • Beta globulin: 0.7 to 1.2 g/dL
  • Gamma globulin: 0.7 to 1.6 g/dL

Note: g/dL = grams per deciliter

Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.


What abnormal results mean

Decreased total protein may indicate:

  • Cirrhosis
  • Malnutrition
  • Nephrotic syndrome
  • Gastrointestinal protein-losing enteropathy

Increased alpha-1 globulin proteins may be due to:

  • Acute inflammatory disease
  • Cancer
  • Chronic inflammatory disease (for example, rheumatoid arthritis, SLE)

Decreased alpha-1 globulin proteins may be a sign of:

  • Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Increased alpha-2 globulin proteins may indicate:

  • Acute inflammation
  • Chronic inflammation

Decreased alpha-2 globulin proteins may indicate:

  • Hemolysis

Increased beta globulin proteins may indicate:

  • Hyperlipoproteinemia (for example, familial hypercholesterolemia)
  • Estrogen therapy

Decreased beta globulin proteins may indicate:

  • Congenital coagulation disorder
  • Consumptive coagulopathy
  • Disseminated intravascular coagulation

Increased gamma globulin proteins may indicate:

  • Multiple myeloma
  • Chronic inflammatory disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, SLE)
  • Hyperimmunization
  • Acute infection
  • Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia
  • Chronic liver disease

Note: Blood test results may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.


Images

Review Date: 02/05/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)