Alpha-2 Macroglobulin

Alpha-2-macroglobulin is an acute-phase protein belonging to the plasma protein group. It is produced primarily in hepatocytes (liver cells), as well as fibroblasts (connective tissue cells) and macrophages (phagocytes). Alpha-2-macroglobulin is involved in many metabolic processes in an inhibitory manner.

Alpha-2-macroglobulin belongs to the marker proteins in urine. These allow the differentiation and monitoring of nephropathies (kidney diseases).

Alpha-2-macroglobulin in urine is a marker for postrenal hemorrhage-induced proteinuria (e.g., due to stones, infections, injuries, tumors).

The procedure

Material needed

  • Blood plasma
  • 2. morning urine

Preparation of the patient

  • Not known

Disruptive factors

  • Not known

Standard values

Sample Normal value
Blood plasma 130-300 in mg/dl
Urine <10 mg/g creatinine

Indications

  • Diagnosis of microhematuria – blood in the urine but which is not visible.
  • Diagnostics in proteinuria – protein in the urine.
  • Diagnostics in diabetes mellitus (diabetes)
  • Suspicion of acute inflammation, unspecified.
  • Suspicion of liver damage
  • Suspected nephrotic syndrome – collective term for symptoms occurring in various diseases of the glomerulus (renal corpuscles); the symptoms are proteinuria (excretion of protein in the urine) with a protein loss of more than 1 g/m²/body surface/d; hypoproteinemia, peripheral edema due to hypalbuminemia of < 2.5 g/dl in serum, hyperlipoproteinemia (lipid metabolism disorder).

Interpretation

Interpretation of increased values

  • Acute inflammation, unspecified (acute phase protein).
  • Diabetes mellitus (diabetes).
  • Nephrotic syndrome

Interpretation of decreased values

Further notes

  • Marker proteins in urine are:
    • Albumin – molecular weight (MG) 66,000; marker for glomerular proteinuria (increased excretion of protein in the urine due to damage to the glomerula (renal corpuscle)).
    • Transferrin – MG 90,000; marker for glomerular proteinuria.
    • Immunoglobulin G (IgG) – MG 150,000; marker for unselective glomerular proteinuria (indicative of severe glomerular damage).
    • Alpha-1 microglobulin – MG 33,000; marker for tubular proteinuria (restriction of tubular reabsorption function).
    • Alpha-2-macroglobulin.- MG 750,000; marker for postrenal hemorrhage-induced proteinuria.