Plasma Proteins - Ex 5 Flashcards
2 major classes of proteins present in plasma and serum
Albumin & Globulins (1’ly immunoglobulins)
What is the difference between plasma and serum?
Plasma = unclothed (has fibrinogen)
Serum = clotted (no fibrinogen)
What substances can interfere with refractometer measurement?
Lipids (lipemia), Hgb (hemolysis), bilirubin (icterus)
Fibrinogen
Increases with inflammation and dehydration
Produced by the liver –> APP
Commonly used in equine and ruminant hematology
PP:Fib –> Horses and Ruminants
Horses:
<15 = inflammation
>15 = dehydration
Ruminants:
<10 = inflammation
>10 = dehydration
How is the globulin concentration derived on most biochemistry profiles?
Globulin conc. = Total protein conc. - serum Albumin conc.
Panhypoproteinemia - Differentials
- Blood loss - common
- Protein-losing enteropathy - common
3, Severe exudative skin dz
- Severe burns
Why would you see hypocalcemia with hypoalbuminemia
Ca bound to Albumin
Selective Hypoalbuminemia - 2 main processes
- Dec production of Albumin
- hepatic failure
- Starvation or malabsorption
- EPI (rare) - Selective loss of Albumin
- Glomerular dz
Hypoalbuminemia & increased Globulins
Albumin is negative APP –> dec with inflammation
Antigenic stimulation –> inc Globulins
Selective Hypoglobulinemia
Generally due to decreases in immunoglobulins
- Failure of passive transfer
- Immunodeficiency
Hyperalbuminemia
ALWAYS dehydration!
Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE)
Measures albumin and globulins (peaks)
Breaks down globulins into components: alpha, beta, and gamma
Alpha globulins
increased with acute inflammation
APP
Beta globulins
Acute inflammation/APP
Liver dz
Nephrotic syndrome
Gamma globulins
Includes most of the immunoglobulins
Increases are called “gammopathies”
- Polyclonal
- Monoclonal
Polyclonal gammopathies
Broad peak
- chronic Ag stim
- Immune-mediated dz
- Liver dz
Monoclonal gammopathies
Narrow, tall peak
- Multiple myeloma (plasma cell tumor)
- B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- Small number of canine ehrlichia cases
Immunofixation Electrophoresis
separates immunoglobulin classes
more sensitive detection
*Usually SPE is enough, but can do this if we need more answers
What are the 2 most likely causes of hyperfibrinogenemia
Dehydration and Inflammation
