Electrophoresis refers to a laboratory test in which electrically charged particles of blood migrate in an electric field.
The speed of this migration depends on the ionic charge of the particles, the field strength, and the radius of the particles, among other factors.
One can distinguish the different forms of electrophoresis:
- Protein electrophoresis in blood serum (synonym: serum electrophoresis), urine (synonyms: urine electrophoresis; urine protein electrophoresis) or cerebrospinal fluid.
- Hemoglobin electrophoresis (synonym: Hb electrophoresis).
- Immunofixation electrophoresis
- Lipid electrophoresis
In lipid electrophoresis (synonym: lipoprotein electrophoresis), the following fractions are split:
- Alpha-lipoprotein
- Beta lipoprotein
- Chylomicrons
- Prebeta lipoprotein
The procedure
Material needed
- Blood serum
Preparation of the patient
- Blood collection in the morning fasting
- Prior 16 h strict food/alcohol abstinence, 2 days low fat diet.
Normal values – blood serum
| Fraction | Fraction |
| Alpha lipoprotein | 40,7-71,9 % |
| Beta-lipoprotein | 9,8-46,2 % |
| Chylomicrons | 0 % |
| Prebeta lipoprotein | 0-29,6 % |
Indications
- Obesity (obesity)
- Alcoholism
- Diabetes mellitus (diabetes)
- Circulatory disorders
- Hyperlipidemia (lipid metabolism disorder with elevated blood lipid levels; dyslipidemia; hyperproteinemia; hyperlipoproteinemia).
Interpretation
Classification of lipoproteinemias according to Fredrickson.
| Designation | Increased fraction | Cholesterol (mg/dl) | Triglycerides (mg/dl) | Fredrickson phenotype | Secondary disease in |
| Exogenous hyperlipidemia | Chylomicrons | < 260 | > 1.000 | I | DysglobulinemiaLupus erythematosus |
| Familial hypercholesterolemia | Beta lipoprotein | > 300 | < 150 | IIa | Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP)Anorexia nervosaDysglobulinemiaHepatomaHypothyroidismMorbus CushingNephrotic syndrome |
| Combined hyperlipidemia | Beta-lipoprotein/prebeta-lipoprotein | > 300 | 150-300 | IIb | Diabetes mellitusDysglobulinemiaHyperuricemia (gout)Hypothyroidism |
| Remnant hyperlipidemia | Beta lipoprotein(broad band) | 350-500 | 350-500 | III | Diabetes mellitusDysglobulinemiaGoutHypothyroidism |
| Endogenous hyperlipidemia | Prebeta lipoprotein | < 260 | 200-1.000 | IV | Alcohol excessDiabetes mellitus Glycogenosis type IHepatitis Hyperuricemia (gout)Nephrotic syndromeZieve syndromeEstrogens Glucocorticoids |
| Mixed hyperlipidemia | Prebeta lipoprotein/chylomicrons | < 300 | > 1.000 | V | Alcohol excessDiabetes mellitusDysglobulinemia. Hyperuricemia (gout)Anterior pituitary insufficiency(HVL insufficiency)PregnancyThiazide diuretics |
