The total protein test measures the total amount of two classes of proteins found in the fluid portion of your blood. These are albumin and globulin. Proteins are essential parts of all cells and tissues. Albumin helps prevent fluid from leaking out of blood vessels.
To evaluate protein nutritional status and diagnose protein altering diseases.
Increased or decreased protein levels can be caused by your nutritional status or by protein altering diseases.
Causes of high total protein: dehydration; some cases of chronic liver disease, including autoimmune hepatitis and cirrhosis; neoplasms, especially myeloma; macroglobulinemia of Waldenström; tropical diseases (eg, kala-azar, leprosy, and others); granulomatous diseases, such as sarcoidosis; diseases in which total protein is sometimes high include collagen disease (eg, lupus erythematosus (SLE), and other instances of acute or chronic infection/inflammation).
Causes of low total protein: pregnancy; intravenous fluids; cirrhosis or other liver disease, including chronic alcoholism; prolonged immobilization; heart failure; nephrotic syndromes; glomerulonephritis; neoplasia; protein losing enteropathies; Crohn disease and chronic ulcerative colitis; starvation, malabsorption, or malnutrition; hyperthyroidism; burns; severe skin disease; and other chronic diseases.
Note: The medical information provided here in this website is for informational purposes only and is not to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
