Total protein is a laboratory test that evaluates the concentration of all proteins in the blood. Total protein determination allows for the diagnosis of many diseases, e.g. cancer. What are the laboratory norms for total protein? What does it mean too low or too high?
The determination of the total protein level in the blood chemistry testis helpful in diagnosing liver disease, kidney disease, intestinal disease, and severe skin disease. Protein is an important component of plasma. It maintains adequate pressure inside the blood vessels, transports nutrients, is involved in the coagulation processes and in the body's defense.
Plasma proteins are constantly changing dynamically - they renew and degrade (decay). The concentration of protein in the blood depends on many factors - including the amount of protein-rich food consumed (meat, dairy products) and its synthesis, i.e. production in specialized tissues (primarily in the liver), as well as the degree of loss of this substance by the system digestive system, urinary system, lungs and skin.
Total protein - what is it and what are its functions?
Total protein in the blood is all the proteins found in our bloodstream. Proteins in the blood perform a number of important biological functions:
- maintain normal blood pressure
- maintain acid-base balance, i.e. pH
- take part in blood clotting processes, e.g. fibrinogen
- take part in immune processes, e.g. antibodies
- transport molecules such as hormones or amino acids, e.g. albumin
The concentration of total protein in the blood is subject to dynamic changes in breakdown and synthesis, therefore it depends on the following factors:
- protein supply in the diet
- protein synthesis in the liver
- protein loss via digestive tract, kidneys, skin and lungs
Total protein - fractions
Total protein in the blood is made up of different protein fractions that perform specific functions. The following blood protein fractions are distinguished:
- albumin constituting 55-65% of blood proteins
- alpha-1-globulins constituting 3-5% of blood proteins
- alpha-2-globulins constituting 7-10% of blood proteins
- beta-globulins constituting 9-13% of blood proteins
- gamma-globulins constituting 14-20% of blood proteins
Total protein - indications for the test
- eating disorders e.g. anorexia
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, e.g. celiac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases
- liver disease
- kidney disease
- cancer
- burns
- puffiness
- hemorrhages
- chronic inflammation
- hematological diseases, e.g. multiple myeloma
- overhydration or dehydration of the body
Total protein - what is the test and what are the laboratory standards?
Total protein determination is performed from venous blood taken from the elbow bend. The person performing the test should be on an empty stomach. The price of a total protein test in a commercial laboratory ranges from PLN 8-15.
The normal level of total protein is between 60 and 80 g / L or between 6 and 8 g / dL.
Total protein - what does low level mean?
The concentration of total protein below the norm is mainly caused by the reduction of the albumin fraction.
Total protein below normal, also called hypoproteinemia, can be true, which results from:
- insufficient protein supply in the diet, caused e.g. by malnutrition, anorexia
- malabsorption syndrome e.g. in celiac disease
- excessive protein loss by:
- digestive tract e.g. exudative enteropathy
- kidneys e.g. nephrotic syndrome
- skin e.g. burns
- lungs e.g. bronchiectasis
- chronic bleeding or haemorrhage
- insufficient hepatic synthesis e.g. damage to the liver parenchyma
- excessive protein breakdown observed in:
- hyperthyroidism
- cancer
- fever
- sepsis
- conditions after surgery
Another situation is pseudo-hypoproteinemia, which results from the thinning of the blood due to fluid overload.
It is worth noting that a decrease in the concentration of total protein below 45 g / l is very dangerous, because then water escapes to the tissues, edema appears and the filling of blood vessels with fluid is reduced.
Total protein - what does high level mean?
Above the normal level of total protein is most often caused by the increased production of globulin (antibody) fractions.
Total protein above the norm, also called hyperproteinemia, can be true, which results from:
- production of pathological protein fractions, e.g. in multiple myeloma, macroglobulinemiaWaldenströma
- excessive production of physiological proteins in:
- chronic inflammation
- collagenosis
- cirrhosis of the liver
- retina
- autoimmune diseases, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis
On the other hand, pseudo-hyperproteinemia results from blood thickening caused by dehydration.
- What can protein in urine mean? Causes and types of proteinuria
- Protein: role in the body, demand, products rich in protein