Serum protein paper electrophoresis in cystic fibrosis correlated with clinical and radiological findings.

Few studies of serum proteins by means of paper electrophoresis in patients 
with cystic fibrosis (CF) have been published. In these studies alterations 
of the serum protein fractions were found, some of which were 
significantly correlated with the clinical and radiological severity of the disease. 
In the present study, serum proteins determined by paper electrophoresis in 
95 patients with CF have been studied and correlated with clinical 
and radiological findings. The serum proteins and electrophoretic patterns if 95 
patients with CF were followed for 1 to 6 years in 
each patient. For CF patients as a whole, total serum protein 
was unchanged, whereas albumin and albumin/globulin ratio were decreased and all 
globulin fractions increased. Total serum protein was increased in patients with 
severe pulmonary disease. The changes in total serum protein and in 
all protein fractions were significantly correlated with clinical and radiological severity 
of the lung disease. All terminal patients had severe changes. Patients 
with complicating liver cirrhosis had electrophoretic patterns that did not differ 
from those of other CF patients. It is concluded that the 
main cause for serum protein alterations in CF is the lung 
affection, whereas liver involvement and malabsorption probably are of much less 
importance. 