Normally, blood protein should be between 6.0 and 8.0 g/dL, with 3.5 to 5.0 g/dL as albumin, according to Dr. Leonard Gomella in the "Clinician's Pocket Reference." If you have less than the normal level of proteins in your bloodstream, several causes are possible.
The Basics
Most of the proteins in blood are made by plasma cells, a type of white blood cell, or made in the liver, as explained in "DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination" by Dr. Richard DeGowin. The plasma cells make antibodies, which are proteins also known as immunoglobulins. The liver makes many proteins, but the main ones in the bloodstream are albumin and fibrinogen. Albumin carries hormones and proteins, and helps maintain the proper pressure in blood vessels. Fibrinogen helps the blood form clots.
Nephrotic Syndrome
If you have nephrotic syndrome, you have a kidney disorder. You might have lipids in the urine and blood, puffiness in the face and limbs, protein in the urine and a low amount of albumin protein in the blood. By definition, you will have more than 3 grams of protein in the urine in 24 hours and less than 3 g/dL of albumin in the blood, according to Dr. Suzanne Watnick in "Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment." Blood protein is low as a result of the kidney damage.
Cirrhosis of Liver
A diseased liver can also lead to a low amount of protein in the bloodstream. A healthy liver can make new cells to replace any damaged ones, but a sick liver cannot replace the cells and if it is repeatedly ailing, it can lead to cirrhosis, in which scars and fibrous tissue have developed in its attempt to repair itself. The scars and irregular tissue can interfere with its ability to make proteins. According to the National Institutes of Health, alcohol abuse and hepatitis C are the main causes of cirrhosis.
Protein-Losing Enteropathy
The term protein-losing enteropathy describes the medical condition in which you are losing an excessive amount of protein from the bloodstream and the intestines -- much more than the amount of proteins that are being made. This can lead to swelling; when not enough albumin flows in the blood vessels, fluid will move out of the blood vessels and into the tissues. It can also result in infections due to the decreased number of antibodies. As of June 2011, the National Institutes of Health was conducting a study on the use of a type of heparin to help children with this potentially life-threatening disorder.
References
- "Clinician's Pocket Reference"; Dr. Leonard Gomella; 2007
- "Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2011"; Dr. Stephen McPhee; 2011
- "DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination"; Dr. Richard LeBlond et al; 2009
- National Institutes of Health: Cirrhosis
- National Institutes of Health: Safety and Efficacy of ODSH in Protein Losing Enteropathy
