The fluid portion of the blood normally contains some amount of proteins, which fall into two categories: albumin or globulin. These proteins are important for the tissues throughout the body as albumin prevents fluids from leaking out of blood vessels and globulins function in the immune system. Getting a high reading, over the standard range of 6.0 to 8.3 g/dL, on a total protein blood test performed as part of a routine health exam can indicate the presence of disease. Several different chronic conditions and diseases cause protein levels in the blood to test too high.
Chronic Inflammation
Chronic inflammation can cause high levels of protein in the blood. Inflammation is the body's response to injury or infection. Chronic inflammation can last for days, weeks, months or even years. During periods of chronic inflammation the liver produces increased levels of C-reactive protein, which can show as an increased level of albumin in the blood. Conditions associated with chronic inflammation include asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and polymyalgia rheumatica.
Viral Hepatitis
Chronic viral infections can also cause protein levels in the blood to become too high. Viral hepatitis describes an infection with one of the hepatitis viruses--hepatitis A, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Viral hepatitis affects 4.5 million people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver that can lead to liver damage, cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure or liver cancer. Although a total protein blood test does not provide a diagnosis for viral hepatitis, patients with chronic hepatitis infection often do not know what causes their symptoms until receiving abnormal results from a routine test like the protein test, which prompts doctors to perform additional tests for diagnosis.
HIV
HIV, a chronic infection with the human immunodeficiency virus, causes many changes within the body including contributing to a high level of protein in the blood. The human immunodeficiency virus, first recognized in 1981, spreads through direct contact with the blood. Through intense public education, the rate of HIV infection has decreased dramatically. HIV virus impairs the immune system, making you susceptible to infection by other viruses. The HIV virus can also trigger the body's inflammatory responses, leading to chronic inflammation and an increased level of protein in the blood.
Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma, a bone marrow disease, can also cause a high level of protein in the blood. Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects the plasma cells in the bone marrow. Plasma cells make antibodies, a specialized type of protein, to help fight infections. A person with multiple myeloma produces a group of abnormal plasma cells, known as myeloma cells, that produce a higher than normal level of protein. The additional proteins produced cause the total blood protein levels to increase, which prompts doctors to recognize the presence of a problem.
