Gamma Globulin Test

Globulin and albumin are two kinds of serum proteins. Globulins can either be produced in the liver or can be produced by the immune system. Normally the concentration of globulins in blood is 2 – 3 g/dl. Globulins can be categorized based on protein electrophoresis. These categories are known as Alpha 1 globulins, Alpha 2 globulins, Beta globulins and Gamma globulins. Among the gamma globulins, there is one group which functions as antibodies. These are referred to as immunoglobulin. Immunoglobulins are the most significant of the gamma globulins. An excess of gamma globulin is called as hypergammaglobulinemia whereas a deficiency of gamma globulin is referred to as hypogammaglobulinemia. Any disease of the gamma globulins is referred to as “gammopathy”.

Gamma globulins injections are normally given when attempting to boost the patient’s immunity temporarily, against any disease. These injections are normally given to those patients who in some way are exposed to Measles or hepatitis A. It is also given in the case of compatibility generation between a kidney donor and the recipient regardless of whether the blood type matches. Dr Stanley Jordan from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of Los Angeles pioneered this particular treatment wherein the gamma globulin was administered intravenously to a patient suffering from a kidney failure, causing a reduction in the antibodies of that patient. Thus, allowing that person to then accept a donor kidney with a different blood type or where the tissue match is inacceptable. This treatment was FDA approved in the year 2004. Thus, these injections are primarily used to aid in boosting the immunity of patients who are unable to produce gamma globulins on their own for reasons like X- linked agammaglobulinemia, hyper IgM syndrome, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura or due to an immune deficiency. Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura is an immunological disease which is caused when the platelets are in the process of being attached by the antibodies. This leads to a serious low platelet count. Apparently gamma globulins are the reason the spleen ignores platelets that are antibody-tagged which allows them to survive and thus function.

Testing of a new approach is underway, wherein researchers are attempting to slow down the progression of the Alzheimer’s disease by using the Intravenous Immune Globulin or what is also known as gamma globulin. At the moment this treatment has not been approved for treating Alzheimer’s disease, which is one of the most significant causes of a disease known as dementia that affects the elderly.