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What Causes High Serum Protein Levels In Blood?
Posted on
Sun, 3 Jul 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 3 Jul 2016
Answered on
Mon, 25 Jul 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : Hi, my serum protein levels have went from 6.9 a year ago to 8.3 now - my albumin level is 4.4, Alk phos 116, Alt 44,Ast 32, calcium 9.3,creatine 0.63, BUN 15. I was on prednisone for four months a few months ago for pnuenomia and just before this blood test I had a herpes outbreak . I had also been taking Tylenol 1 or 2 Tablets a day and 1 Percocet for pain. I have fibromyalgia .
Should this protein elevation be a concern?
Should this protein elevation be a concern?
Brief Answer:
serum protein electrophoresis may help
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
it seems that your gamma globulins have risen, probably because of the infection. You can calculate their level by subtracting the albumin level from the total protein level. When the gamma globulins are higher than normal serum protein electrophoresis may provide significant clues. Since you've had a prolonged infection (?) recently, it could be related to it.
Your worries about multiple myeloma will be confirmed or excluded with electrophoresis. The rise in globulins with a normal electrophoresis will almost certainly exclude it.
So in conclusion, it seems that prolonged stimulation of your immune system caused this protein rise, but further testing is required to exclude more serious causes.
I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
serum protein electrophoresis may help
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
it seems that your gamma globulins have risen, probably because of the infection. You can calculate their level by subtracting the albumin level from the total protein level. When the gamma globulins are higher than normal serum protein electrophoresis may provide significant clues. Since you've had a prolonged infection (?) recently, it could be related to it.
Your worries about multiple myeloma will be confirmed or excluded with electrophoresis. The rise in globulins with a normal electrophoresis will almost certainly exclude it.
So in conclusion, it seems that prolonged stimulation of your immune system caused this protein rise, but further testing is required to exclude more serious causes.
I hope it helps!
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So I subtracted the albumin level from total protein level and I get 3.9
Albumin is 4.4 and total protein is 8.3- is that high?
My sed rate and CRP levels are low if a person had mm wouldn't those numbers be elevated and the red cell counts and white be low?
Albumin is 4.4 and total protein is 8.3- is that high?
My sed rate and CRP levels are low if a person had mm wouldn't those numbers be elevated and the red cell counts and white be low?
Brief Answer:
not always
Detailed Answer:
3.9 is a little higher than normal. The CRP and the complete blood count can be perfectly normal at the initial stages. The ESR is usually high at diagnosis but this is not always the case. Abnormal protein in serum electrophoresis is the most characteristic finding in multiple myeloma with high globulins.
Kind Regards!
not always
Detailed Answer:
3.9 is a little higher than normal. The CRP and the complete blood count can be perfectly normal at the initial stages. The ESR is usually high at diagnosis but this is not always the case. Abnormal protein in serum electrophoresis is the most characteristic finding in multiple myeloma with high globulins.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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