Serum Haptoglobins in Haemolytic States

Abstract

Serum haptoglobin levels have been studied in patients with a number of haemolytic disorders.In general, serum haptoglobins were low in patients with increased haemolysis. Values were reduced irrespective of whether haemolysis occurred intravascularly or extravascularly.The reduction was related to the amount of haemoglobin destroyed per day.Serum haptoglobins may be raised in certain neoplasms and infections and during adrenocortical steroid hormone therapy. A rise in haptoglobins due to one of these factors may mask a fall due to haemolysis. Thus a normal or raised serum haptoglobin does not necessarily exclude a haemolytic process.

Changes in serum alpha2 globulins in reticuloses

“…In the present study a02 globulin was significantly raised only in Hodgkin's disease, but the number of cases of lymphosarcoma and reticulum cell sarcoma were possibly too small to give a significant result. Owen et al (1960) found a raised haptoglobin in some cases of acute leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, lymphosarcoma, and reticulum cell sarcoma. In a 10-year study of 40 patients with Hodgkin's disease Jayle, Marnay, Ennuyer, and Ridremont (1961) showed that haptoglobin levels were raised in untreated patients or in patients towards the termination of their disease.…”

“…The absolute values were then calculated from the total serum protein concentration. SERUM HAPTOGLOBIN CONCENTRATION This wasmeasured colorimetrically by the colour change in guaiacol resulting from the peroxidase activity of the haemoglobinhaptoglobin complex (Owen, de Gruchy, and Smith, 1960). A standard curve was prepared each week from pooled normal serum.…”

On Haemoglobin Degradation in the Newborn

“…It was hoped that information about the extent of the 'haem olysis' would be available from a study of the levels of those aglobulins collectively known as haptoglobin, especially since the works of B ru s a n d L e w s (2) and O w e n et al (21) had indicated that a small degree of haemolysis, irrespective of whether it is intra vascular or extravascular, can severely deplete the plasma of hapto globin.…”

Evaluation of haptoglobin phenotype 0-0 in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic hospital populations

“…Illnesses accompanied by intravascular haemolysis (Brus and Lewis, 1959;Owen, DeGruchy, and Smith, 1960;Reerink-Brongers, Prins, and Krijnen, 1962) and/or liver disease with hepatocellular dysfunction (Jayle and Boussier, 1955;Owen, MacKay, and Got, 1959) can result in hypohaptoglobinaemia which is characterized by a reduction of the serum haptoglobin to a 'This research was supported by clinical pharmacology training grant number HE 5616-05 from the National Heart Institute and in part by contract PH-43-67-1485, National level below the accepted normal range of 40 to 180 mg %, expressed as haemoglobin-binding capacity (Nyman, 1959;Bayani-Sioson, Lauch, Sutton, Neel, Home, and Gershowitz, 1962). If depletion is severe (ie, haemoglobin-binding capacity of less than 20 mg %) then electrophoresis on starch gel may show an apparent absence of haptoglobin-haemoglobin protein complexes (anhaptoglobinaemia).…”