What the analysis shows the total protein. Total protein: what it is and its norm in a blood test. Elevated and Decreased Component Level

The ratio of basic proteins in the blood

Total protein is just one of the numbers in the biochemical blood test. Counting the amount of total protein and its components makes it easy to find out if everything is in order with the main human organs.

What is more dangerous for health - high or low protein and what do these conditions mean?

Protein or protein?

The concept of "total protein" includes not one criterion, but several at once. Each of its constituents or factions has its own function. For the body, proteins are absolutely irreplaceable and serve a number of purposes.

They are involved in the transfer of nutrients, hormones, metabolic products and even drugs. Proteins are a universal "transport" in human blood.

Another important function is neutralization. Many metabolic products are toxic to organs. But one of the fractions - albumin - binds to toxins and makes them safe. In this form, unnecessary substances are excreted from the body.

Proteins do the same with harmful molecules from outside. Albumin is capable of neutralizing poisons.

The structure and purpose of blood protein.

The next major part is globulins. These are real protective proteins. Globulins are represented by antibodies, therefore their other name is immunoglobulins. Antibodies are produced by our body against the invasion of any bacteria, viruses or fungi.

IMPORTANT! It is due to the fact that antibodies are protein that immunity is significantly reduced in malnourished people.

There are proteins among the proteins that are responsible for blood clotting - fibrinogen, prothrombin and other coagulation factors. These substances play a critical role in stopping bleeding. The lack of clotting factors leads to increased bleeding - bruising and large blood loss when injured.

SRB and RF - what is it?

Sometimes the doctor prescribes an analysis for rheumatic tests. In this case, the blood from the vein is analyzed for the content of certain proteins - rheumatoid factor and C-reactive protein.

Are immunoglobulins, antibodies that do not work properly. They attack their own body. Therefore, the appearance in the body of a large amount of RF indicates the autoimmune nature of the disease.

Rheumatoid factor - autoantibodies that react as an autoantigen with their own immunoglobulins G, which have undergone changes under the influence of an agent (for example, a virus)

C-reactive protein Is a universal criterion for inflammation. It increases if an inflammatory process is actively occurring in the body. It is not always an infection; inflammation can be autoimmune.

Therefore, CRP and RF are calculated when an autoimmune nature of the disease is suspected, in particular, joint pathology.

How Much Protein Is Good?

The range of blood protein test results varies with age and gender. What is normal for a newborn girl is not suitable for an older man. This is due to the peculiarities of immunity, metabolism and liver function. In newborns, many indicators change transiently - very quickly and for a short time. Therefore, any suspicious analysis at this age should be rechecked.

Normal blood protein values \u200b\u200bin table 1.

Age	Norms in women	The norm in men
Children under 28 days	40-60	41-60
Children under 12 months	45-80	45-70
Children 12-48 months	60-80	55-75
Children from 5 to 7 years old	50-80	55-80
Children from 8 to 16 years old	55-80	55-80
17-25 years old	75-80	80-85
25-55 years old	70-80	75-80
56-75 years old	70-75	70-75
Over 75 years old	65-75	70-75

Not everyone needs to measure total protein. This criterion is always calculated not separately, but as a component in biochemical analysis.

Medical indications for counting its amount are varied:

Any infectious diseases;
Problems with the liver, gastrointestinal system;
Hemoglobin is below normal;
Metabolic disorders;
Before surgery.

Deviations from the normal indicator can be relative and absolute.

The relative decrease is associated with the "dilution" of the blood... Transfusion of liquid solutions during intoxication causes an increase in the amount of the liquid component of the blood. At the same time, the protein content will be relatively low.

The absolute drop is not related to blood thinning, it is a true drop in protein. It can be triggered by either insufficient intake or excessive loss.

IMPORTANT! Protein loss in renal disease can be seen in classic urinalysis.

The increase in protein can also be relative - if fluid is lost through vomiting or diarrhea. An absolute increase in protein content can be a sign of systemic diseases, infections, or neoplasms.

Changes in blood count may be physiological... This means that the protein is decreased or increased not because of the disease, but because of the characteristics of the organism. This is possible during pregnancy and while feeding a child, due to prolonged bed rest or excessive physical exertion - weightlifting, marathon.

Pathologies in which the amount of total protein changes in table 2.

Low protein	High protein
Operations	Allergies
Tumors	Malignant neoplasms
Burns and burn disease	Scleroderma
Syndrome of malabsorption and maldigestion	Rheumatoid arthritis
Fever	Multiple myeloma
Liver pathology	Blood loss, blood clotting
Gastrointestinal pathologies	Liver dysfunction
Thyrotoxicosis	Sepsis
Intoxication	Systemic lupus erythematosus
Bleeding and anemia	Profuse diarrhea and vomiting
Massive infusion of solutions
Exhaustion, starvation, strict vegetarianism

What does elevated protein indicate?

Doctors call high protein hyperproteinemia. All factions can be promoted at the same time, or each separately.

The highest values \u200b\u200bare observed in myeloma, a type of blood tumor. Pathology is characterized by the fact that a large amount of protein is formed in the body, which has an abnormal structure.

It is too large and clogs the kidneys, and can be deposited in the bone tissue.

IMPORTANT! Multiple myeloma refers to malignant tumors of the blood system, so an increase in the amount of protein is a reason to visit a hematologist.

A lower level of protein fractions is observed in autoimmune diseases - systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis. This is due to the formation of a large number of antibodies to its own tissues - immunoglobulins.

Other, more rare pathologies in which hyperproteinemia occurs:

Macroglobulinemia or Waldenstrom's disease - a pathology similar to myeloma, in which an abnormal protein is also synthesized;
"Diseases of heavy chains" - several pathologies of immunity, in which in the body the wrong immunoglobulins are formed, which do not fulfill their protective function and are larger;
Lymphogranulomatosis - neoplasm of the blood system;
Cirrhosis of the liver - usually causes hypo-, but in some cases, hyperproteinemia occurs;
Other pathologies with an autoimmune component - sarcoidosis, paraproteinemia;
Acute and chronic infections with a pronounced immune response.

What does low protein show?

Hypoproteinemia - this is the term doctors call a low concentration of protein in the serum.

Its reasons are:

Lack of liver cell function (occurs with hepatitis, cirrhosis, toxic liver damage, fatty degeneration of its tissue);
Lack of protein foods (fasting, fasting)
Exhaustion with fever and infections;
Human immunodeficiency virus and congenital immunodeficiencies;
Malignant neoplasms;
Excess loss in urine when the kidneys are not functioning properly
Neoplasms of the blood system;
Severe anemia;
Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal system, which are manifested by the syndromes of malabsorption and maldigestion (insufficient digestion and absorption);
Insufficiency of the pancreas;
Diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy;
Lack of thyroid function.

How to prepare for the study?

Blood for biochemistry analysis is taken from a vein. Today this is done using vacuum tubes, which allow blood to be drawn quickly and painlessly. It takes from several hours to 1-2 days to calculate the result.

Note! Given the fact that small laboratories and clinics transport blood to larger institutions, it sometimes takes up to three days for analysis.

Do not eat in the morning before taking blood. The food should be light the night before. Fatty, fried, smoked foods are excluded, as they can affect the test results through changes in liver function.

Excess fat, protein load, alcohol consumption can affect the level and the analysis will show incorrectly. Excessive physical activity has a similar effect - it leads to a change in protein levels.

- obtaining comprehensive information about the functioning of each internal organ separately and the body as a whole as a single system. One of the leading indicators of this analysis is the determination of the concentration of total protein in the blood and its fractions. This article is devoted to the value of this indicator and the interpretation of possible deviations from the norm.

What is this indicator

Protein serves as a building material for all organs and tissues of the human body. By the type of a kind of skeleton, it creates a base on which cells and molecular structures of other types of metabolism are attached. We can say that this is the main building material, without which the restoration of the structure of cells and tissues, and therefore their further life, is impossible. The protein metabolism rate assumes constant protein circulation, consisting of:

Breakdown of complex protein structures into simpler protein molecules and amino acids;
Its synthesis from amino acids that are formed in the body or enter the bloodstream with food;
Conversion of some types of protein to others.

Important to remember! There is not a single cell or fluid in the human body that does not contain a minimum amount of protein. In the process of life, the restoration of the lost structure of damaged protein molecules is constantly taking place!

Naturally, protein can be transferred between tissues only through the blood. This is the basis for determining the total protein in the blood serum as the main indicator of protein metabolism. The meaning of the term total protein suggests that such an indicator of biochemical analysis indicates the concentration of all types of protein that can circulate in the body. And there are more than a hundred of them. They can be represented not only by physiological protein molecules that are formed daily in cells. Various types of pathology of certain organs lead to the formation of abnormal proteins, which will also affect the total blood plasma protein and biochemical analysis in general. The liver is a kind of laboratory, which to a greater extent carries out all types of protein transformations. It is this organ that is mainly responsible for the overall protein metabolism.

The main types of plasma proteins that determine the level of total protein in a blood test are:

Albumin is the largest fraction of low molecular weight protein molecules that are responsible for maintaining cell structure and optimal blood condition;
Globulins are the second largest protein fraction, represented by large-molecular compounds. They talk about the activity of the immune system;
Fibrinogen is a specific protein responsible for key links in blood coagulation;
Other proteins - they are represented by various physiological or pathological modifications of the basic types of proteins. Normally, their number is very low.

Normal indicators

The range of maximum and minimum values \u200b\u200bof total blood protein is wide enough. This is due to a wide range of physiological reasons that affect the activity of protein metabolism in the body. In addition, there are reasons for which the rate of this indicator can change in one direction or another. It mainly depends on different physiological conditions and processes in the body (pregnancy), gender and age of the subject. The generally accepted standards are given in the form of a table. The units of measurement of indicators of protein metabolism are presented in grams per liter of plasma (g / l).

Indicator	Total protein	Albumin	Fibrinogen	Globulins
Adults	64-84	35-55	The norm is 2-4 g / l for all age groups.	The total is not determined. Only an analysis of their different types is carried out if indicated.
Teenagers	59-77	30-50
Children under 6 years old	60-76	29-52
Children under one year old	47-73	22-49
Children up to a month	48-75	24-50

In women, the total protein level may be slightly reduced compared to men (up to 10%). During pregnancy, such a decrease is even more likely and can reach about 30% of the norm. The main condition indicating that these changes are physiological and are due to a normal change in hormonal levels is the absence of any complaints and pathological symptoms. If they accompany any decrease in protein, this may no longer be the norm.

Important to remember! A deviation of the obtained indicator of total protein from the upper or lower limit of the norm by several units is not a pathology. A marked decrease in blood protein is much more common than an increase. If the cause of the first type of deviations can be many different factors, then the second type of changes in the indicator is characteristic of a narrow range of diseases!

Liver pathology is one of the main reasons for a decrease in protein

What does the decrease in protein say?

Lowered total blood plasma protein is called hypoproteinemia by doctors. Its main reasons are:

Hepatocellular insufficiency, which arose against the background of acute and chronic liver diseases (hepatitis of toxic and viral origin, cirrhosis, pathology of the bile ducts, primary and metastatic liver tumors;
Poor or improper nutrition in the absence of pathology of internal organs (various diets and fasting);
Depletion of the body due to severe or long-term diseases and infectious-purulent processes;
Exhaustion against the background of malignant tumors;
Accelerated excretion of protein in the urine in severe kidney disease and renal failure;
Diabetes mellitus and its complications;
Severe anemia, bleeding and malignant blood diseases (leukemias);
Chronic pathology of the stomach and intestines, accompanied by impaired digestion and absorption of protein components from food;
Pathology of the pancreas with its enzymatic insufficiency;
HIV infection and various immunodeficiencies;
Diseases of the endocrine system: decreased function of the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) and hyperfunction of the adrenal glands (hypercortisolism);
Pathology of pregnancy in the form of gestosis.

What to think about if the protein is elevated

If blood biochemistry is characterized by an increase in protein levels, they speak of hyperproteinemia. Its causes can be:

Pathological fluid loss by the body with any type of dehydration;
Severe intoxication against the background of an acute period of infectious and purulent-septic diseases. In this case, there is a redistribution of fluid between the blood and tissues, against the background of which the total protein rises;
The period of active formation of immunity. This is possible after suffering infectious diseases or vaccination (vaccination);
Multiple myeloma (the production of abnormal Bens-Jones protein in the body). It is accompanied by severe hyperproteinemia;
DIC syndrome (severe disorders of the blood coagulation system, causing the pathological content of coagulation factors).

Video about multiple myeloma - the reason for the increase in total protein:

Important to remember! A decrease in the level of total protein can be associated either with a violation of its supply or synthesis, or with excessive expenditure on the restoration of damaged tissues, or excessive excretion by the kidneys. An absolute increase in its level occurs only with myeloma, since the blood is overflowing with pathological protein. A relative increase is such an increase in the amount of protein, in which its norm is exceeded due to a reduced amount of fluid in the blood plasma!

If the protein in the blood is high - what does it mean? Many people are interested in this question. And it is right. In general, it is imperative to know what is happening in our body. That is why it is worth talking about what functions the protein performs and what to do if its balance is disturbed.

It is important to know

The protein content in the blood should be normal, and it is desirable that no disturbances arise. This substance is very important to us. After all, it is thanks to the protein that the blood is able to coagulate and move through the vessels. In addition, this substance is responsible for the transfer of nutrients. They are fats, hormones, and other compounds that move through the blood vessels.

And this substance also provides protective functions of the body. Also, it maintains the stability of the pH value. And plus to everything, it is the protein that sets the volume of blood in the vessels. So, as you can see, this is the most important element, without which our body would not exist. Well, now we should cover this topic in more detail.

Alarm "call"

It is imperative that a blood test be performed if a person has suspicions of certain diseases. In particular, for various kinds of disorders that may be associated with lowered immunity. Most often these are infectious diseases or any systemic disorders. It is also worth doing tests if there is a suspicion of collagenosis, malignant neoplasms, anorexia or bulimia. Also, the balance of protein is often disrupted if a person has impaired liver or kidney function. Thermal burns, by the way, can also often cause.

Balance and norm

So, in order to find out whether the protein in the blood is elevated or not, it is necessary to conduct an analysis. If the results are abnormal, then yes, there are violations. The so-called "total blood protein" consists of globulins and albumin. The latter are produced in the liver. Globulins are produced by lymphocytes.

The analysis is done in the morning and only on an empty stomach. The generally accepted norm is a level of approximately 66-68 g / l for adults and for adolescents over the age of 14 years. For young children who are under one year old, there is another norm, and it is equal to 44-73 g / l. In older babies (from one to two years old), the balance should vary from 56 to 75 k / l. And in children from 2 to 14, the indicator ranges from 60 to 80 g / l. As a matter of fact, this is general information, and it will be useful to know it. The doctor says everything else after the analysis.

Lack of protein

So, before telling what it means if the protein in the blood is elevated, it is worth briefly talking about the lack of this substance in the body. This is usually observed during physiological changes that a person undergoes. This includes prolonged immobilization, for example. Hypoproteinemia is a condition in which the level of this substance is lowered.

This often occurs with a rigid diet or fasting, it is also often found in vegetarians and (even more often) in vegans. Long-term inflammatory bowel processes can also be the cause. Because of all this, the absorption of proteins is simply minimized. If a person's liver is not in order, then this problem can also occur. Chronic kidney problems, burns, cancers, strenuous physical activity, poisoning - all this can also be the cause of imbalance. And, unfortunately, low protein is not rare.

Elevated: thyroid abnormalities

What can you tell about this? Well, it rarely happens that the protein in the blood is elevated. What does it mean? This kind of imbalance is indicative of certain diseases. And very serious ones. And in principle, this is an extremely critical situation when the protein in the blood is increased. What does this mean - you need to figure it out.

The first reason is autoimmune diseases. For example, such is Thyroid inflammation. Unfortunately, this disease is usually asymptomatic. The thyroid gland only increases. And it is very important for us, as it produces iodine, which is essential to maintain normal metabolism. If the thyroid gland begins to work defectively or some diseases (which often lead to an operation), then the person is then forced to follow a strict diet for the rest of his life. Nothing salty, fatty, spicy, fried, stewed. Steamed foods and, without fail, what contains iodine (salmon, mackerel, flounder, cabbage, tomatoes, persimmons, legumes, rye, oats, etc.). In general, this is very serious, so it is advisable, if there is a suspicion of a disease associated with the thyroid gland, to see a doctor.

What else do you need to know

If a person has a high protein in the blood, then it may not necessarily be the thyroid gland. Acute or chronic infections are often the cause. Even a banal lack of water in the body can provoke a situation where a person will have an increased protein in the blood. But, of course, one of the most serious causes is malignant tumors, due to which harmful substances are produced in the body. Proteins, by the way, are also among them.

If the analysis showed that the balance is imbalanced, then it is very important to take into account that some medications that a person may have taken for some time are the cause of hyperproteinemia. These include medications containing estrogen and corticosteroids. And if the result nevertheless turned out to be deplorable, then it is necessary to make an appointment with a therapist. The final reason will be clarified there. There should be as much protein in the blood as the norm prescribes, and disorders should be treated.

Because of what can be exceeded the norm of protein in the blood?

It has already been said about the disease, but now I would like to talk about other reasons. So, in general, the increase can be absolute and relative. In the first case, an increase in plasma proteins is observed, but the volume of blood remains the same. In the second, its thickening can be traced. But in both cases, the norm of protein in the blood is violated.

A relative increase can occur as a result of frequent vomiting or regular diarrhea - because of this, the body becomes dehydrated. Intestinal obstruction, cholera, acute bleeding - all this is also the cause. An absolute boost is what was listed earlier. All serious illnesses. And sepsis. Nothing was said about him, but this is also the case.

How to maintain a healthy balance? Unfortunately, in this case, you cannot get off with one diet. The doctor will tell you everything in detail, prescribe the necessary drugs and the diet that must be followed without fail.

A biochemical blood test allows you to assess the work of internal organs. One of the leading indicators of this study is total blood protein (total protein).

Indicator of total blood protein of amino acid metabolism, which characterizes the level of protein molecules of all types and fractions in blood serum. By the concentration of proteins, you can find out how protein metabolism occurs.

Proteins fulfill a variety of functions and ensure the normal functioning of the body. If the total protein in the blood is lowered, then dangerous pathologies can be the reason for this. And therefore, this condition requires timely and competent treatment.

The value and function of protein in the blood

Proteins are the building blocks of all organs and tissues in the body. They are the framework to which cells and various biological structures are attached. Without proteins, cells and tissues cannot be restored. Every cell and fluid in the body contains protein.

The liver plays an important role in protein metabolism, since most of the transformations take place in this organ.

Proteins move from tissue to tissue through blood vessels. More than 100 types of proteins circulate in the blood. In addition to physiological molecules, pathological proteins can be formed in the body (for various diseases).

The main types of proteins in serum:

Albumin is a large protein fraction, their molecular weight is quite low. They maintain optimal cell structure and normal blood condition;
Globulins are large-molecular proteins that are involved in the synthesis of immune proteins;
Fibrinogen is a specific protein that is involved in blood clotting.

The lowest percentage are the rest of the physiological and pathological modifications of proteins. Their increase is observed only with the development of diseases.

The main functions of proteins:

Maintain normal levels of blood viscosity and fluidity;
Keep other blood enzymes in suspension;
Maintain the required volume of blood in the body;
Regulate the acid-base balance in the blood;
Regulate blood clotting;
They transport nutrients to organs and tissues.

A low concentration of proteins in the blood serum indicates pathological processes in the body.

The norm in adults and children

The spread of minimum and maximum values \u200b\u200bof proteins in blood plasma is large. This is because many physiological and other reasons affect the activity of protein metabolism.

Most often, the change in protein level depends on a variety of physiological conditions and processes (for example, pregnancy), gender and age of the patient.

Total Protein Rate by Age:

0 - 1 month - from 48 to 75 g / l;
2 - 12 months - from 47 to 73 g / l;
1 - 6 years old - from 60 to 76 g / l;
7 - 17 years old - from 59 to 77 g / l;
From 18 years of age and older - from 64 to 84 g / l.

The total protein concentration in women may be slightly lower (about 10%) than in men. The deviation of this indicator in pregnant women can reach 30%. If these changes are due to hormonal imbalance and there are no complaints, then they are physiological in nature.

You will learn more about the norms of total protein in the blood.

Causes of low blood protein

Hypoproteinomy is a condition in which serum protein levels are low. Physicians distinguish physiological, relative and absolute hypoproteinomy.

Symptoms and treatments for hypoproteinmia

With a low protein in the blood, a person's well-being worsens, this is manifested by a decrease in working capacity, chronic fatigue, and a weakening of the body's defenses. If the protein concentration decreases to 50%, then tissue edema occurs... The whole body or only some of its parts can swell.

In severe cases, fluid accumulates in the pleural region, pericardial sac (pericardium), peritoneum. This condition manifests itself as ascites, pleurisy (inflammation of the membranes of the lungs), inflammation of the lungs, etc.

The effusion of fluid into the pericardium provokes arrhythmia, pericarditis, myocardial inflammation and even death.

To normalize the body's work, you need to compensate for the protein deficiency. And therefore, first of all, you need to visit a doctor who will find out the cause of hypoproteinmia and eliminate it.

It is possible to increase the concentration of proteins in the blood with the help of medication and proper nutrition. The patient must follow a diet and take vitamin preparations.

A dietitian will help you to compose the menu correctly You should not do this on your own, since not all proteins are split equally, some of them are not completely absorbed.

To compensate for the deficiency, the patient should include in the diet foods rich in animal and vegetable protein:

The average amount of protein is found in fatty meats, cottage cheese, milk, eggs. The diet should include foods that increase serum protein levels. This applies to vegetables, berries, mushrooms and fruits.

Low protein during pregnancy

The concentration of protein in the blood of a pregnant woman can change in one direction or another without the presence of serious diseases. Such fluctuations provoke hormonal changes. The maximum permissible deviation from the norm during gestation is 30%. Hypoproteinmia may result from an increase in blood volume.

In some cases, the amount of proteins decreases due to severe kidney disease, anemia, massive blood loss.

If the following symptoms appear in a pregnant woman, you should consult a doctor:

paresthesia (numbness, tingling of the extremities);
nausea, bouts of vomiting, indigestion;
headache.

To increase the concentration of protein in the blood, you should visit a doctor who will identify the cause of the disorder. If hypoproteinmia is caused by a malfunction of the heart, then the pregnant woman should take narrowly targeted safe drugs. Treatment of renal dysfunction is recommended in a hospital. Anemia is treated with iron supplements and diet.

It is important to normalize the level of protein in the blood of the expectant mother, because ignoring the problem disrupts the development of the fetus.

Thus, total protein is an important indicator of health status. Low protein may indicate various pathologies of the body, so you need to monitor your diet and periodically take a general blood test.

Doctors recommend to undergo biochemical analysis at least 1 time per year. A timely diagnosis guarantees a quick recovery. Now you know why the total protein in the blood is lowered, what it means, what are the causes and symptoms. Moreover, you have learned how you can increase low protein in your blood.

A biochemical blood test is always carried out in order to obtain the most complete information about the state of the body as a whole and about the work of all internal systems and organs.

One of the key indicators in such a study is the level of total protein, as well as its fractions, which makes it possible to identify many possible violations and take action in time.

In this article, you will learn everything about high protein in the blood, what it means, what are the causes and symptoms.

The value and function of protein in the blood

Protein is the main building block for almost all body tissues. It creates a kind of strong framework to which various molecular structures and cells are attached. It is protein that can be called the main element in the construction of all organs, since without it, the restoration of damaged tissues, their cells and further work of organs will be impossible.

In the body, the process of protein metabolism constantly takes place, but its rate consists of several criteria at once, in particular:

From the process of transformation of one type of protein into another.
From the amount of proteins synthesized by the body from amino acids absorbed from food.
From the level of breakdown of complex proteins into simple types of amino acids and molecules.

It should be remembered that in the human body, protein is present in all tissues, fluids and their cells, and the process of restoring lost, damaged or destroyed protein molecules occurs constantly, which ensures our normal existence.

Protein is transported through the bloodstream, therefore determining its level in the patient's blood is a key indicator of the protein metabolism process.

Protein norm in adults and children

The values \u200b\u200bof normal indicators have a fairly wide scatter, which is associated with many reasons, mainly of a physiological nature.

Due to some factors, the indicators may deviate upward or, conversely, downward, which leads to a change in state, but this is not always considered a pathology. Most often, changes in values \u200b\u200bare associated with a certain physiological state, for example, pregnancy, but the level of the indicator also depends on the patient's age, as well as on his gender.

Age	Rate for women and girls in g / l	Rate for men and boys in g / l
Newborn	42 to 62	41 to 63
1 week to 12 months	44 to 79	47 to 70
1 to 4 years old	60 to 75	55 to 75
5-7 years old	53 to 79	52 to 79
8 to 17 years old	58 to 77	56 to 79
18 to 34 years old	75 to 79	82 to 85
35 to 59 years old	79 to 83	76 to 80
60 to 74 years old	74 to 77	76 to 78
75 and older	69 to 77	73 to 78

Elevated protein in the blood is very dangerous to health, so further we will consider the possible causes and symptoms of its increase.

Causes of high protein in the blood

In this part of the article, you will find out all the reasons why the total protein in the blood is increased. An increased total protein in the blood is called hyperproteinemia. This condition can have varying degrees and severity. In particular, the absolute and relative levels of this violation are distinguished.

Hyperproteinemia, absolute

Absolute hyperproteinemia occurs due to the presence of the patient:

Chronic inflammatory diseases. In this case, the total protein can rise to 90 g / l, but does not exceed this limit. The increase occurs due to an increase in the amount of gamma globulins. These include diseases: active sarcoidosis, autoimmune hepatitis, tuberculosis, leprosy, kala-azar, sepsis, schistosomiasis, syphilis, malaria.
Liver cirrhosis. At the initial stages of this disease, the level of gamma globulins is kept at high levels, and a decrease in albumin has not yet occurred, but an increase in total protein begins. Subsequently, when the development of the disease intensifies, the patient can observe the appearance of ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity) and edema.

Hypoproteinemia, relative

Most often, this condition occurs due to severe dehydration or significant fluid loss. In this case, an increase in the hematocrit level is usually observed.

Most often, relative hypoproteinemia occurs when:

The appearance of disorders of the feeling of thirst. This occurs, for example, with head injuries and damage to the brain, primarily the hypothalamus.
Poisoning or other digestive disorders accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, significant loss of fluid.
Heavy and prolonged bleeding.
Excessive sweating, such as extreme heat or high body temperature.
Acute renal failure when the disease is in the polyuric phase.
Diabetes insipidus.

Of course, in many types of diseases, an increased total protein not only in the blood, but also in the urine or cerebrospinal fluid, which is of great diagnostic value in many areas of medicine.

Symptoms of the disease and methods of treatment

If an increased total protein is observed in the test results, it is very important to accurately determine the cause of this condition. As a rule, an increase in this indicator has no specific symptoms, but always indicates the presence of a pathological process in the body. Moreover, the higher the protein, the more serious and complex the disease is, even if it has a latent form.

You should not postpone a visit to the doctor, because during this period, serious, very often irreversible changes can occur in the body, and the condition will be significantly complicated by the appearance of new severe ailments.

Treatment of the condition should be aimed at eliminating the cause that caused the increase in indicators, and in no case should it be done independently. Only a qualified doctor will be able to accurately determine the disease (and, perhaps, more than one), after conducting a full examination.

In some cases, the increased amount of protein in the test results is false., which is happening for several reasons. For example, in case of violation of the technology of taking material from a vein.

It is also important to remember that physical activity (even slight) within an hour before the procedure increases the amount of protein by 10%. The same amount of protein will increase if the patient gets out of bed, that is, moves from a horizontal position of the body to a vertical one. It is very important to rest for at least half an hour before the procedure, since it is during this period that the indicator increases. Now you know all the symptoms that indicate high protein in the blood.

Elevated C-reactive protein

CRP is the dominant protein that activates the immune system when any damage occurs in tissues, organs or systems. That is why CRP, like the ESR indicator (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), in the study of blood is important for the diagnosis of diseases.

An increased ESR is often observed with infections, especially of the bacterial type. When harmful elements enter the human body, there is a rapid increase in this protein by several tens of times. For example, if the normal value is 5 mg / L, then during a viral attack, this value can sharply increase to 100 or more mg / L.

But there are other reasons for the rapid increase in ESR, for example:

During pregnancy, this indicator is increased in cases where there is a threat of miscarriage. It also increases during the period after operations, with obesity, taking hormonal contraceptives, serious physical exertion, sleep disturbances, in a state of depression, adherence to a protein diet.

In this article, you learned about the total protein in the blood and the reasons why the protein in the blood is elevated and what to do if it is elevated. Now you all know why there may be an increased protein in the blood.