360 - Serum Proteins Flashcards
T or F. SPE is a routine test
F!
Indications for ordering SPE include:
Suspected multiple myeloma or Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia,
Suspected primary amyloidosis
New-onset anemia associated with renal failure or insufficiency and bone pain
Hypercalcemia
Rouleaux formations noted on PBS
Renal insufficiency with associated serum protein elevation
Unexplained pathologic fracture or lytic lesion identified on a radiograph
Monoclonal free light chain proteinuria
albumin
- liver
- neg APR
- binds and transports many substances = acidic drugs, bilirubin, calcium
- controls colloidal oncotic pressure
- DECREASED in liver disease, nephrotic syndrome, and acute + chronic inflammation
- a relative decrease in multiple myeloma
alpha1-antitrypsin
- acute phase reactant
- synthesized by the liver
alpha1-lipoproteins
- HDL & apolipoprotein A-1
- transports cholesterol and fat-soluble vitamins
alpha1-acid glycoprotein
o acute phase reactant
o binds basic and lipophilic drugs
o produced by liver
alpha2-macroglobulin
o synthesized by the liver
o markedly increased in nephrotic syndrome
o decreased in pancreatitis and prostate cancer
haptoglobin (alpha2)
o acute phase reactant
o synthesized by the liver
o binds and transports free hemoglobin
o increased in nephrotic syndrome + inflammation
o decreased in intravascular hemolysis and liver disease
ceruloplasmin (alpha2)
o acute phase reactant
o synthesized by the liver
o binds 90% of the body’s copper
o increases observed in inflammation, severe infection
o decreases observed in nephrotic syndrome, liver disease, malnutrition
beta-lipoproteins
o synthesized the liver
o VLDL and LDL; transports cholesterol, phospholipids and hormones
transferrin
o synthesized by the liver
o a negative acute phase reactant
o transports iron
o increased in iron-deficient anemia
o decreased in inflammation, liver disease, protein malnutrition, nephrotic syndrome
beta2-microglobulin
o the light or β chain of the HLAs
o increased in renal failure, inflammation, and tumours
fibrinogen
o seen in plasma samples
o synthesized by the liver
o it is an acute phase reactant and a coagulation protein
C3, C4 (beta)
o complement factors
o decreased in SLE, nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal and liver disease
o increased in acute inflammation
immunoglobulins (Gamma)
o produced by plasma cells
o involved in humoral immunity
o increased in infection, autoimmune diseases, myeloma
o decreased in nephrotic syndrome, burns or inherited deficiencies
C-reactive protein
o synthesized by the liver
o acute phase reactant
o CRP activates the classical complement pathway
a sensitive method for the detection and identification of monoclonal components in the serum or urine
Immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE)
this is a follow-up test for monoclonal gammopathies or M-peaks
IFE
How does IFE work?
- serum sample is separated by agarose gel electrophoresis,
- different antiserums
added to the appropriate lanes - antibody-antigen complexes precipitate out; the immune
precipitate is trapped within the gel matrix, and all the other non-precipitated proteins can be removed
by washing the gel - gel can then be stained for identification of the proteins
What is a paraprotein?
a monoclonal immunoglobulin, polymers of immunoglobulin or light chain (kappa or lambda) present in the blood or urine; a clonal population of mature B cells (plasma cells) produces it
these are used to detect and identify paraproteins?
Serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation electrophoresis
Paraproteins can cause…
SPE monoclonal bands or M-band
Clinical identification of
paraproteins may be useful in the detection and monitoring of …
plasma cell and B lymphocyte disorders