Acute Phase Proteins

Question 1

What are some acute phase proteins?

Answer 1

• CRP
• Procalcitonin
• Ferritin
• Fibrinogen
• Alpha-1 antitrypsin
• Caeruloplasmin (Copper carrying protein)
• Serum amyloid A
• Serum amyloid P component*
• Gaptoglobin
• Complement

Question 2

Do you get thrombocytosis as a response to infection?

Answer 2

Yes

Question 3

During the acute phase response the liver decreases the production of other proteins (sometimes referred to as negative acute phase proteins). Give me some examples.

Answer 3

• Albumin
• Transthyretin (formerly known as prealbumin)
• Transferrin
• Retinol binding protein
• Cortisol binding protein

Question 4

A 45-year-old man with a persistent chest infection presents to surgery for review. He has now had two courses of antibiotics with no real improvement. A decision is made to perform a chest x-ray and do screening blood tests. When interpreting the blood tests which one of the following would not normally be raised in response to an acute infection?

• CRP
• Platelets
• ESR
• Albumin
• Ferritin

Answer 4

Albumin

Albumin levels are often reduced following an acute phase response