ABSTRACT
Figure 7.2 0 Seru m protei n electrophoresi s i n th e norma l stat e an d i n som e diseas e states. (Reproduce d b y permissio n fro m a circula r by th e Gelma n Instrumen t Co. , A n n Arbor, M I .)
show a tota l protei n valu e (determine d b y th e biure t reaction ) o f 6.4-8. 3 g/dL .
Serum albumi n account s fo r 3.5-5. 0 g/dL , and th e res t i s "globulin/ ' w h i c h m a y
be calculate d b y subtractin g th e albumi n valu e fro m th e tota l protei n valu e i f
a lbumin ha s bee n determine d independently . Mor e often , th e seru m protei n
profile i s arrive d a t by determinin g tota l protei n an d th e electrophoreti c distribu -
tion o f th e fiv e seru m fractions: albumin and a r , a 2 - , j8-, and y-globulins . Norma l
mean value s are , i n percen t o f tota l protein , 58% , 3% , 11% , 12% , an d 16% ,
respectively. Th e mean norma l A /G rati o is therefor e 1.36 , w i t h a normal range o f
1.2-1.6. Thes e value s wi l l chang e i n variou s diseas e processes , fo r instanc e i n
the nephroti c syndrome , wher e albumi n levels ar e low an d a 2 -globulin level s ar e
high. Thi s wi l l resul t i n a low A / G ratio. Seru m protein pattern s i n som e diseas e
states ar e illustrated in Figur e 7.20 .
