Electrophoretic Changes of Serum Protein with Glomerulonephritis: A Study Using Microzone Electrophoresis on Cellulose Acetate

ABSTRACT

Protein levels were measured in 91 cases with acute glomerulonephritis from 2 years to 15 years of age. Measurements were made using microzone electrophoresis on cellulose acetate. A unique and somewhat characteristic pattern was obtained in all our patients with acute glomerulonephritis. The mean values of the total serum protein were significantly decreased, except in the age group of 23 years, with acute glomerulonephritis as compared with the normal values of the total serum protein. The mean levels of albumin were also decreased with statistical significance in all our patients. On the whole, the levels for the alpha-1 and alpha-2 globulins tended to be somewhat higher in patients with acute glomerulonephritis than in the healthy children. But there were no significant differences among them. In the beta fraction, the mean levels with acute glomerulonephritis were decreased with ststistical significance except in the age group of 23 years. In the gamma fraction, the mean levels with acute glomerulonephritis were markedly increased as compared with the mean values of the healthy children. To summarize, the most striking changes in the patients with acute glomerulonephritis consisted mainly of a moderate reduction of the total protein and albumin, a decrease in the beta fraction and an increase in the gamma globulin. None showed a significant increase in the alpha-1 and the alpha-2 fraction.