A/G Ratio: Measuring the Proteins Albumin and Globulin

It is an examination of blood that determines the amount of albumin and The globulin The blood contains proteins. A high A/G may indicate kidney problems, an antigen deficiency or severe dehydration. A low ratio of A/G could also be an indication of liver disease, kidney illness, persistent infections such HIV or autoimmune disorders like lupus Certain cancers, as well as certain types.

The A/G test can be tested as part of a routine albumin globulin ratio blood test known as”the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) or when you experience abnormal symptoms, such as Hematuria (blood found in urine) or jaundice (yellowing in the eye or the skin)

What A/G Ratio Measures

The A/G ratio describes the amount of albumin compared to albumin globulin ratio the amount of globulin in your blood. Both are called serum proteins. They have different purposes in the human body, as follows:

Albumin, produced by the liver, helps fluids remain inside blood vessels and prevents them from leaking into your lungs, abdomen, or other parts of your body.2 A normal albumin range is between 3.4 and 5.4 grams per deciliter (g/dL).
Globulins produced by the liver (called alpha and beta globulins) and the immune system (called immunoglobulins or antibodies) play a role in liver function, blood clotting, and fighting infections.4 A normal globulin range is between 2.0 and 3.5 g/dL.
Under normal circumstances, there is slightly more albumin in your blood than globulin.

Why You Might Need an A/G Test

The A/G test is usually included in the albumin globulin ratio complete metabolic panel, which is a routine test that your doctor may request. You may also require an A/G test if you or your health care provider are concerned over the liver or symptoms for chronic kidney illness that could include: 7 8

The buildup of fluid that causes abdominal pain and swelling.
Feet and ankles swelling
Nausea and vomiting
Skin itchy with no apparent reason
Unexplained fatigue
Loss of weight and/or loss of appetite
Jaundice
Urine changes, such as blood color, dark color, or dark in the urine

Inform your doctor whether you have any symptoms that suggest the need for an A/G test

What Does a Low A/G Ratio Mean?

If your body functions normally, the ratio between albumin and globulin should remain pretty consistent. If the proportion fluctuates and the ratio A/G decreases, this could be an indication of an illness, infection or nutritional deficiency.

Your A/G may be lower due to three reasons:

Your albumin levels are normal, however, your globulin levels are high.
Your albumin level is low and your globulin level is high.
Your globulin is normal but your albumin level is low.

Low albumin ( hypoalbuminemia ) is usually because of the decreased production of albumin in the liver, or due to the excess loss of albumin in urine (due to kidney problem). Chronic inflammation can cause blood vessels to become more permeable, which can lead to loss of albumin.

However high levels of globulins are usually a sign of the presence of inflammation or stimulation of your the immune defense system to fight disease or infection.

To that end, potential causes for an A/G ratio that is low include:

What Does a High A/G Ratio Mean?

A high A/G ratio is more rare than a lower A/G ratio and could be observed when:

Your albumin levels are high and your globulin level is normal.
Your globulin level is low and your albumin levels are normal.
Your albumin and globulin levels are both elevated, however the ratio is not normal.

The level of albumin may decrease if your body isn’t producing enough or a large quantity is eliminated via the kidneys after you urinate. 5 In contrary, the only instance where albumin levels can radically rise is in extreme water loss.

In this regard, the possible causes for an A/G ratio that is high are:

Birth (during which albumin and globulin levels will rise to aid in the growth of the fetus) 18
Antibody deficiency disorder (a category with genetic diseases that lead to an insufficient creation of immuneglobulins)

A high A/G percentage does not create a particular set of symptoms. In many instances there might not be signs. However, patients who are deficient in immunoglobulins may be susceptible to respiratory infections that are recurrent, like pneumonia and meningitis, ear infections or skin infections.

Diagnosis

A/G results cannot diagnose a medical issue by itself, however it can guide your doctor or healthcare professional towards possible reasons.

Other tests may help to determine the root of the issue and aid in narrowing the cause. They include lab tests such as:

Full blood count (CBC): A common panel of blood tests which can identify signs of inflammation or infection.
Urinalysis A urine-based test that can detect excessive protein levels in urine ( proteinuria )
Creatinine clearance (CrCl) A blood test can detect waste products known as creatinine that may build up in bloodstreams when the kidneys are damaged.
Estimated glomerularfiltration (eGFR) (eGFR) A test that determines the efficiency or inability of the filtering unit of kidneys is functioning, also known as glomeruli Are working
C-reactive Protein (CRP): A blood test that is able to detect general inflammation within the body.
Erythrocyte segregation rate (ESR): A blood test to measure general inflammation by measuring how fast red blood cells sink at the bottom of a column
Tests for liver function (LFTs): A set of tests to determine the presence of liver disease.
Antinuclear antibodies (ANA): A blood test to detect abnormal antibodies that are associated with various types of autoimmune disorders.

Imaging tests and other specialist procedures can also be used when a gastrointestinal condition or cancer has been identified like:

Imaging studies include ultrasound, X-rays computed tomography (CT) and Magnetic radiography (MRI)
Endoscopy: A minimally-invasive test using a fiberoptic microscope is introduced into either the rectum or mouth area to examine the digestive tract.
biopsy The process utilized to collect a portion of tissues for testing within the laboratory to look for the presence of cancer, inflammatory disorders or autoimmune conditions.

Summary

A/G is an blood test that measures the quantity of proteins (albumin and the globulin) within your blood. The normal A/G range will range somewhere between 1.1 and 2.5 but it could differ from lab to laboratory.

A lower A/G ratio could be due to kidney diseases liver diseases, chronic infections malnutrition, type 2 diabetes as well as certain autoimmune diseases and even cancer. A high A/G ratio could be due to kidney diseases, along with extreme dehydration, pregnancy and immune deficiencies.