Proteins in your blood help maintain fluid balance and blood clotting, and they protect you from infection. While you need proteins to survive, it is possible to experience an excess of proteins in your blood. If this occurs, it can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Knowing the symptoms of high blood protein levels can help you seek treatment to begin correcting your underlying condition.
Symptoms
Symptoms of high blood protein levels can include nausea, sudden weight loss, unexplained fatigue or persistent fever. While these symptoms can be non-specific, your physician may note them and recommend further testing if they continue over time. It is not uncommon for your physician to detect elevated protein levels through regular blood testing, before you ever experience symptoms.
Blood Testing
If your physician suspects you may have high blood protein levels, he will recommend a blood protein test. This requires drawing a blood sample, which will determine the total protein level in your blood. Your physician may order tests such as an albumin, liver enzyme or serum protein test for further testing. Further testing includes a ratio of albumins to globulins, also known as an A/G ratio. While you should have a ration just slightly over 1, a lower ratio can suggest conditions like an autoimmune condition, cirrhosis or kidney disease. A higher ratio of proteins can signify you have a genetic-related condition or a form of leukemia.
Underlying Conditions
High blood protein levels can signal you are experiencing chronic inflammation. You also can have an infection like viral hepatitis, which affects the liver's ability to break down proteins. The immunodeficiency virus known as HIV also is linked to high protein levels. Bone marrow disorders such as multiple myeloma, or cancer of the bone cells, also cause high blood protein levels. These conditions cause your body to produce increased amounts of immunoglobulins, which are proteins in the blood that have immune system function.
Misconception
Note that taking in protein in your diet is rarely the cause of high protein levels in the blood. This is because most protein excess symptoms are due to the inability of the body to filter or produce proteins rather than excess dietary intake. However, if your physician diagnoses you with a condition like kidney disease, he may recommend you take in less protein if your kidney disease is advanced.
References
- MayoClinic.com; High Blood Protein; November 2009
- National Kidney and Urologic DIseases Information Clearinghouse; The Kidneys and How They Work; February 2009
- Lab Tests Online; Total Protein and A/G Ratio; May 2009
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Proteinuria; March 2009
