The serum protein changes in giant cell arteritis

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Abstract
The serum protein changes in 11 patients with giant cell arteritis are presented in hopes of demonstrating the value of these determinations in diagnosing a difficult disease. All but 1 of the patients received steroid therapy for a varying period of time. The serum electrophoretic changes consisted of a considerable increase in the alpha 2 globulin fraction accompanied by a lesser elevation in the alpha 1 fraction and a decreased albumin. This pathological pattern is actually that of a general inflammatory state in which alpha 2 globulin inevitably increases. Glycoprotein strips showed that the alpha 2 glycoprotein mirrored the rise and fall of the alpha 2 globulin which in turn indicated the underlying activity of the inflammatory state. Steroid therapy produces a decreasing alpha 2 globulin level. The globulins, in general, decrease but this is particularly true of the gamma fraction. A markedly elevated alpha 2 globulin fraction in conjunction with an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (E.S.R.) and the presence of C-reactive protein in the blood would support the existence of an inflammatory state and would justify an arterial biopsy.

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