Which pattern on electrophoresis indicates an acute inflammation/ Immediate response pattern?

• A. Decreased albumin; Increased a1, a2
• B. Increased albumin; Decreased gamma
• C. No change in any fraction
• D. Decreased gamma; Increased albumin

Answer: (A)

In acute inflammation the liver ramps up production of positive acute-phase proteins, which enlarges the alpha regions on electrophoresis, while production of albumin (a negative acute-phase protein) falls. This shifts the serum protein pattern toward a bigger alpha-1 and alpha-2 region and a smaller albumin region. Gamma globulins don’t rise in the immediate response (they tend to increase with longer-standing or chronic inflammation due to more immunoglobulins). So the pattern showing decreased albumin with increased alpha-1 and alpha-2 bands best reflects an acute inflammatory/rapid response.