Your blood contains two types of protein, Albumin and Globulin.
- Albumins, help carry other substances throughout your blood and keep fluid from leaking out of blood vessels.
- Globulins, are made up of enzymes, antibodies and more than 500 different proteins.
- Chronic inflammation and infection, can be caused by illnesses such as HIV and hepatitis, both of which raise the levels of protein in your blood. When your body's tissues are inflamed or infected, your immune system will react by issuing antibodies, which are basically proteins that try to attack the diseased cells and prevent them from causing any further harm. Therefore the levels of protein in your blood will continue to rise.
- Multiple Myeloma, is a type of cancer that attacks your plasma cells - the white blood cells contained in your bone marrow. The main function of plasma cells are to create antibodies used to fight off infection. If you have a Multiple Myeloma your bone marrow will contain abnormal plasma, which will multiply rapidly. Because plasma cells are responsible for creating antibodies, excess amounts of plasma cells will consequently lead to excess measures of protein in your blood.
- Amyloidosis, a disorder defined by the accumulation of a specific type of protein called Amyloid, in your organs and tissues. The most common type of Amyloidosis is by overproduction of the plasma in your bone marrow.
- Waldenstrom's disease, or polycythemia vera, is a condition caused by an increased production of blood cells by your bone marrow. The increase in blood cells also leads to an increase in antibody production and an increased level of protein in the blood.