Total protein

The term "total protein" implies the concentration of globulin and albumin in the blood serum. Such a protein in the blood has a number of functions. It participates in blood coagulability, in immune processes, performs transport function and so on. In addition, it reflects one or another state of homeostasis, since it is the proteins that give the blood a certain viscosity, fluidity, and form its volume in the vascular bed.

These important characteristics are directly related to the work of the cardiovascular system and the body's metabolic function, which for its work as a whole has a direct effect. The total protein is mainly determined in order to diagnose and treat afterwards various ailments, including bone marrow, kidney and liver diseases, as well as disorders of nutrition and metabolism.

Often the protein rises in young children, as well as in pregnant women (often in the third trimester), during prolonged bed rest and with lactation. There is also a false-elevated level. This is observed in cases of prolonged application of a tourniquet to veins located on the forearm.

The concentration of protein in about 30 minutes by about 10% can increase when the body's position changes from horizontal to vertical. The same percentage of its increase and with sufficiently active physical work. Although the level of concentration can not only increase, but also decrease.

Thus, the total protein increases with such diseases as:

• Dehydration (extensive burns, diarrhea, vomiting in case of intestinal obstruction, cholera);

• Autoimmune pathology (rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus and others);

• Chronic and acute infectious diseases;

• Oncological diseases, in which abnormal proteins are produced in excess.

Its level decreases with liver diseases, malabsorption syndrome, increased protein catabolism, insufficient intake of it directly into the body with food, massive transfusion of blood substitutes.

There is a similar condition in fasting, pancreatitis, tumors, enterocolitis, the consequences of surgical interventions, trauma, thermal burns, prolonged physical exertion, chronic and acute bleeding, etc.

The total protein of blood serum in each person has a different level of concentration, although there are generally accepted norms. This concentration is mainly affected by the synthesis and decomposition of the two major protein fractions, globulin and albumin. The protein molecules, in turn, are divided into globular and fibrillar forms.

The first have the form of a lump or ball, whose length exceeds the diameter from 3 to 10 times, and the second - an elongated shape. The length of their molecules exceeds the diameter from tens to hundreds of times. The content of not only the protein itself, but also these of its fractions in the blood is a very important parameter in the diagnosis of a number of diseases.

As a rule, protein synthesis occurs in the reticuloendothelial system and in liver cells. Since in the body of blood proteins perform a huge number of vital functions, the total protein in the blood, whose norm for an adult is 66 to 87 g / l, is one of the most important laboratory indicators.

The change in this parameter has a significant diagnostic value, since it allows not only to clarify the state of the kidneys and liver, but also to determine some other indicators, which include the imbalance that occurs at the microelement level, inflammatory processes of an acute nature throughout the body, and violation of water-salt metabolism.

It should be noted that in some situations the total protein may have indicators that deviate from the norm, and this is not a pathology. Mainly, such conditions are fasting, pregnancy, lactation and strong physical activity. Quite often deviation serves as a signal of any disturbances in the activity of the organism, the evaluation of which will help to correctly diagnose and select effective ways of treatment.