Pattern of serum protein electrophoresis by cellulose acetate method in different conditions.

Thesis Report.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction: Serum protein electrophoresis is an analytical method that separates serum protein based on their physical properties and identifies morphologic patterns in response to acute and chronic inflammation, various malignancies (mainly multiple myeloma), liver or renal failure and hereditary protein disorders.

Objective :The aim of the study was to examine the pattern of serum protein electrophoresis in different conditions (nephrotic syndrome, liver disease, HIV-AIDS, normal and multiple myeloma).

Materials and Methods :The study comprised a total of 83 samples collected from 3rd November 2009 to 7th March 2010. Serum protein electrophoresis was performed on cellulose acetate paper, densitometric examination was done and albumin was determined by BCG method. The data were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences SPSS v.14.

Results: Serum protein electrophoresis on cellulose acetate paper showed prominent M-band in case of multiple myeloma. Also, variable pattern ranging from M-band, polyclonal hyper gamma globulinemia to the normal pattern was observed in case of HIV-AIDS. There was a good correlation (R=0.87) found between albumin quantification by cellulose acetate electrophoresis and by BCG method (p<0.01). There was no significant change (p>0.05) observed for mean SPEP fraction (% and g/dl) and mean A/G ratio in case of suspected MM and HIV-AIDS to that of normal. The significant decrease (p<0.05) in mean albumin fraction (% and g/dl) was observed in case of nephrotic syndrome and liver disease. Similarly, significant increase (p<0.05) of mean α1 and γ globulin fraction (% and g/dl) and significant decrease (p<0.05) in mean A/G ratio was found in case of liver disease. In case of nephrotic syndrome, significant decrease (p<0.05) in mean β (% and g/dl) and γ fraction (g/dl) and increase in mean α2 fraction (only %) was found.

Conclusion: Nephrotic syndrome and liver disease were found to show significant effect on most electrophoretic fraction (albumin, alpha 1 & gamma globulin for liver disease and albumin, alpha 2, beta and gamma globulin for nephrotic syndrome) but no significant difference was found for mean SPEP fraction and A/G ratio in case of suspected MM and HIV-AIDS to that of normal. Also, significant decrease in mean A/G ratio was found in case of liver disease.

Keywords Serum protein electrophoresis, Multiple myeloma, pattern

Eng.