Which serum protein electrophoresis pattern is characteristic of cirrhosis?

Which serum protein electrophoresis pattern is characteristic of cirrhosis?

• A. β-γ bridging
• B. Fibrinogen peak
• C. Decreased albumin
• D. Increased γ-globulins

Answer: (A)

Cirrhosis often causes a polyclonal increase in immunoglobulins along with a drop in albumin due to impaired liver synthesis. On serum protein electrophoresis, this combination can create a β-γ bridging pattern, where the boundary between the beta and gamma regions becomes a continuous, merged band. This bridging is a distinctive sign of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Fibrinogen peak is not seen in serum protein electrophoresis because fibrinogen is removed when serum is prepared. Decreased albumin is a common consequence of liver dysfunction but by itself it is not a pattern feature. Increased gamma globulins can occur in cirrhosis, but the hallmark pattern that points to cirrhosis is the β-γ bridging.

Cirrhosis often causes a polyclonal increase in immunoglobulins along with a drop in albumin due to impaired liver synthesis. On serum protein electrophoresis, this combination can create a β-γ bridging pattern, where the boundary between the beta and gamma regions becomes a continuous, merged band. This bridging is a distinctive sign of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.

Fibrinogen peak is not seen in serum protein electrophoresis because fibrinogen is removed when serum is prepared. Decreased albumin is a common consequence of liver dysfunction but by itself it is not a pattern feature. Increased gamma globulins can occur in cirrhosis, but the hallmark pattern that points to cirrhosis is the β-γ bridging.