PROTEIN

Overview

Plasma proteins are synthesized predominantly in the liver; immunoglobulins are synthesized by mononuclear cells of lymph nodes, spleen and bone marrow. The 2 general causes of alterations of serum total protein are a change in the volume of plasma water and a change in the concentration of 1 or more of the specific proteins in the plasma. Of the individual serum proteins, albumin is present in such high concentrations that low levels of this protein alone may cause hypoproteinemia.