CLSC 4440 Clinical Chemistry

II- Proteins V-Body Fluid

Proteins II
Kathleen Schulman M.S., MT(ASCP)
Susan T. Smith Ph.D., MT(ASCP)
Rev 2010
 Body Fluids
• This topic is covered in Chapter 46 in K &
P.
 Body Fluids
• Form between the body wall and various
organs, or between organs and the sacs in
which they are held.
• Function: provide lubrication to reduce
friction when organ moves (heart beats,
lungs expand and contract, joints move)
• Supply nutrients to tissues
Body Fluids
 Body Fluids
• Types:
• Pleural - ___________
• Pericardial- ___________
• Peritoneal - ____________
• Synovial - ______________
• These body fluids contain varying levels of
protein
 Body Fluids
• Factors affecting the level of body fluid
proteins-
• A. hydrostatic pressure- force of fluids moving
through the circulation
• colloid osmotic pressure- caused by certain
solutes in flood
• capillary permeability- ability of fluid to
leak out of capillaries
• B. imbalance in these factors causes formation of
effusions
 Body Fluids
• Types of effusions-
• Transudates and exudates
• Transudates – form due to change in
permeability; see increased hydrostatic
pressure
• Conditions producing transudates –
congestive heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis;
systemic disorders
 Body Fluids
• Exudates – form as a protective response to
inflammation or infection
• Conditions associated with exudates –
nephrotic syndrome- due to decreased COP
• Infarctions, infection, malignancy, rheumatoid
disease, SLE, pancreatitis- May contain WBC
or malignant cells ; due to increased capillary
permeability
• Usually the result of localized injury
 To differentiate between transudates and
exudates:
Test Transudate Exudate Use protein, WBC
content, LD acti-
Appearance clear Cloudy vity to distinguish
fluids.
Fibrinogen No clot Clot
Inc TP- pus
Specific <1.015 >/= 1.015 Inc LD- cells
gravity
Total protein <3.0 gm/dL >/= 3.0 gm/dL
Tpfluid/serum <0.5 >0.5
LD activity <200 IU/L >200IU/L
LDH(fluid/ser <0.6 >0.6
um)
 Assay Methods for
Transudates/Exudates
• You can usually use the Biuret method to
measure protein in these samples.
• As an alternative, methods used for CSF or
urine can be used