Simple agar gel and immunoelectrophoretic studies on serum proteins in hypothyroidism

ABSTRACT

Serum proteins have been studied by both simple and immuno-agar gel electrophoresis in thirteen cretin cases and eleven normal controls aged from 4.5 - 12.0 years. Application of the two techniques for studying serum protein in hypothyroidism threw sortie light on variations in the protein components and hence would help in proper treatment and quick alleviation of the manifest complications of the disease. Data showed hypoalbuminaemia, concomitant with decreased thyroxine level, hyper-glycoproteinaemia as well as hyperlipoprote inaemia which were found to be difficult to explain and increased caeruloplasmin accompanied with a corresponding increase in serum copper. A significant increased transferrin level, but with a concomitant significant decrease in serum iron. Normal gamma gobulin level was found in almost all cases. The significance of these results is discussed