ELECTROPHORETIC STUDIES OF THE PLASMA AND SERUM PROTEINS IN SICKLE CELL ANEMIA 1

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Abstract
Electrophoretic studies were made of the plasma and serum proteins of 15 patients with sickle cell anemia. Of these cases, 13 had decreased albumin; 12, increased gamma globulin; 3, increased beta globulin; and 12, a reversal of the albumin/globulin ratio. 8 of 10 cases had an elevated fibrinogen. The youngest patients showed the fewest protein abnormalities. There seemed to be no relationship of these data to the presence or absence of crisis. Since the protein abnormalities found are similar to those most consistently present in diseases associated with hepatic dysfunction, it is thought that they might be secondary to changes in the liver produced by the sickling process, although tissue breakdown in other organs might also be an important factor. The protein fractions were normal in the 1 case of sickle cell trait studied.