Clinical Significance
It is useful for Diagnosis and treatment of a variety of diseases involving the liver, kidney, or bone marrow, as well as other metabolic or nutritional disorders
Specimen
Serum
Stability
Refrigerated (preferred) : 7 days
Frozen : 180 days
Reference Range
| Age | Reference Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| New born (premature) | 36-60 | g/L |
| New born (full term) | 46-70 | g/L |
| 1 week | 44-76 | g/L |
| 7 months - 1 year | 51-73 | g/L |
| 1-2 years | 56-75 | g/L |
| > 3 years | 60-80 | g/L |
| Adult | 64-83 | g/L |
Interpretation
Mild hyperproteinemia may be caused by an increase in the concentration of specific proteins normally present in relatively low concentration, eg, increases in acute phase reactants and polyclonalimmunoglobulins produced in inflammatory states, late-stage liver disease, and infections.
Moderate-to-marked hyperproteinemia may also be due to multiple myeloma and other malignant paraproteinemias, although normal total protein levels do not rule out these disorders. A serum protein electrophoresis should be performed to evaluate the cause of the elevated serum total protein.
Hypoproteinemia may be due to decreased production (eg, hypogammaglobulinemia) or increased protein loss (eg, nephrotic syndrome, protein-losing enteropathy). A serum protein electrophoresis should be performed to evaluate the cause of the decreased serum total protein. If a nephrotic pattern is identified, urine protein electrophoresis should also be performed.