Protein Electrophoresis: Questions & Detailed Answers
What are the components of Serum Protein Electrophoresis? Right Ans -
Albumin
alpha-1
alpha-2
Beta-1
Beta-2
Gamma
What 4 events alter Albumin levels? Right Ans - 1. Liver Injury --> decrease
2. Nephrotic Syndrome --> decrease
3. Malnutrition --> decrease
4. Dehydration --> increase
What happens to the Albumin peak in acute inflammation? Right Ans -
Decreases
What molecule(s) are in the alpha-1 band? Right Ans - Alpha-1-Antitrypsin
What does a decrease in the alpha-1 band represent? Right Ans - alpha-1-
Antitrypsin deficiency
What does an increase in the alpha-1 band represent? Right Ans - acute
inflammation
Malignancy
What molecule(s) are in the alpha-2 band? Right Ans - Ceruloplasm
Alpha-2 Macroglobulin
Haptoglobin
What is cerulosplasm? Right Ans - Copper transport
What are some diseases associated with Ceruloplasm? Right Ans - Wilson's
Disease --> Keyer Fischer Rings
, What are diseases associated with macroglobulin? Right Ans - nephrotic
syndrome. Macroglobulin concentrates b/c its too large to get through
glomeruli
What is haptoglobin? Right Ans - Binds free Hb then sent to spleen. During
hemolysis --> decreases in haptoglobulin b/c being used to transport Hb to
spleen
What molecule(s) are in Beta-1? Right Ans - Transferin
What is transferin? Right Ans - Fe transport within body to the marrow
macrophages
When does transferrin increase? Right Ans - Low Iron states --> transferin
increase to "sop-up" any free Fe around
Which is the significance of trasnferin in the CSF? Right Ans - becomes
asialated --> ASialated Transferrin
on CSF electrophroesis --> two beta spikes
What molecule(s) are located in Beta-2? Right Ans - Fibrinogen and CRP
What is a CRP value > 10 indicate? Right Ans - inflammation
What does a CRP value 2-3X than normal indicate? Right Ans - Acute
Coronary Syndrome
What molecule(s) are located within Gamma? Right Ans - Immunogolobins
(IgA, IgG, and IgM)
What does a sharp gamma peak represent? Right Ans - monoclonal
gammopathy --> myeloma
What marker can be used to identify monoclonal antibody production?
Right Ans - paraprotein
What is paraprotein associated with? Right Ans - benign monoclonal
gammopathy
What are the components of Serum Protein Electrophoresis? Right Ans -
Albumin
alpha-1
alpha-2
Beta-1
Beta-2
Gamma
What 4 events alter Albumin levels? Right Ans - 1. Liver Injury --> decrease
2. Nephrotic Syndrome --> decrease
3. Malnutrition --> decrease
4. Dehydration --> increase
What happens to the Albumin peak in acute inflammation? Right Ans -
Decreases
What molecule(s) are in the alpha-1 band? Right Ans - Alpha-1-Antitrypsin
What does a decrease in the alpha-1 band represent? Right Ans - alpha-1-
Antitrypsin deficiency
What does an increase in the alpha-1 band represent? Right Ans - acute
inflammation
Malignancy
What molecule(s) are in the alpha-2 band? Right Ans - Ceruloplasm
Alpha-2 Macroglobulin
Haptoglobin
What is cerulosplasm? Right Ans - Copper transport
What are some diseases associated with Ceruloplasm? Right Ans - Wilson's
Disease --> Keyer Fischer Rings
, What are diseases associated with macroglobulin? Right Ans - nephrotic
syndrome. Macroglobulin concentrates b/c its too large to get through
glomeruli
What is haptoglobin? Right Ans - Binds free Hb then sent to spleen. During
hemolysis --> decreases in haptoglobulin b/c being used to transport Hb to
spleen
What molecule(s) are in Beta-1? Right Ans - Transferin
What is transferin? Right Ans - Fe transport within body to the marrow
macrophages
When does transferrin increase? Right Ans - Low Iron states --> transferin
increase to "sop-up" any free Fe around
Which is the significance of trasnferin in the CSF? Right Ans - becomes
asialated --> ASialated Transferrin
on CSF electrophroesis --> two beta spikes
What molecule(s) are located in Beta-2? Right Ans - Fibrinogen and CRP
What is a CRP value > 10 indicate? Right Ans - inflammation
What does a CRP value 2-3X than normal indicate? Right Ans - Acute
Coronary Syndrome
What molecule(s) are located within Gamma? Right Ans - Immunogolobins
(IgA, IgG, and IgM)
What does a sharp gamma peak represent? Right Ans - monoclonal
gammopathy --> myeloma
What marker can be used to identify monoclonal antibody production?
Right Ans - paraprotein
What is paraprotein associated with? Right Ans - benign monoclonal
gammopathy
