Plasma protein patterns in health and disease

The complex nature of protein metabolism has made interpretation of serum protein data a difficult task. Interpretive efforts can be facilitated by use of protein profiles which consist of quantitative immunochemical data combined with qualitative electrophoretic patterns. These profiles can be designed to clarify physiological relationships and emphasize pathological conditions through pattern recognition. This review will present protein profiles observed in acute, subacute, and chronic inflammation: liver diseases, protein losing disorders, plasma cell dyscrasias, humoral immune deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, genetic deficiency states, and other disorders. The value of consultative interaction and the use of combined profiles in the assessment of a patient's protein status will be covered. A discussion of protein patterns in normal individuals will include data on day-to-day, age- and sex-related variation. A section on management of protein data will present various approaches to profile reporting. Graphical report formats which minimize the time required for information transfer and simplify assimilation of results will be emphasized.