Blood and Plasma Protein Question

Question

Enumerate the plasma proteins along with their site of synthesis. List the important functions of plasma proteins and their normal serum levels. Define hypoproteinemia and discuss its clinical significance.

Answer 1

Hello,

There are hundreds of plasma proteins in the blood with multiple different functions in processes such as blood clotting, perfusion, fight against pathogens, homeostasis, endocrine regulation and else. I will write a table below with some of the main blood proteins.

Protein Synthesis Site Functions Normal Serum Range

Hemoglobin Bone marrow Transfer of O2 to tissues 12-16g/dL

Fibrinogen Liver (by hepatocytes) Blood Clotting 0.2-0.45g/dL

Albumin Liver Osmotic Pressure Maintainance 3.5-5.0 g/dL

Globulins Liver Immune System 2.0-2.5 g/dL (General value for the Globulins. IgG, IgA, IgD, IgE, and IgM all have different levels).

Prothrombin Liver Blood Clotting 11-12.5s (measured in PT. Prothrombin is also measured in PPT)

Hypoprotenimea essentially means that the patient has low blood protein levels. This has a major effect on a few things. First, protein concentrations play a major role in the kidney's filtration process by creating an oncotic gradient that forces water to stay inside the blood vessels. If a person has less protein then less water is going to stay inside the vessels and more will leak out into the tissues or the kidneys which leaves the patient at increased risk of edema (both peripheral or on organs) and dehydration. In addition, low protein levels can affect perfusion (haemoglobin), Immune system (Globulins), and clotting speed (Fibrinogen and Prothrombin).

Hope this helps!