plasma protein

plasma protein

n.

Any of the various dissolved proteins of blood plasma, including antibodies and blood-clotting proteins, that act by holding fluid in blood vessels by osmosis.

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plasma protein,

any of the proteins, including albumin, fibrinogen, prothrombin, and the gamma globulins, that constitute about 6% to 7% of the blood plasma in the body. These substances help maintain water balance that affects osmotic pressure, increase blood viscosity, and help maintain blood pressure. All the plasma proteins except the gamma globulins are synthesized in the liver. See also antibody, serum.

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protein (prō´tēn),

n a group of complex organic nitrogenous compounds; the principal constituent of cell protoplasm. Polymers of amino acids that are joined by peptide or amide bonds.

protein, anabolic,

n See steroid, C-19 cortico.

protein, Bence Jones,

n.pr a special protein found in the blood and urine of patients with multiple myeloma and occasionally other diseases involving bone marrow, such as sarcoma and leukemia.

protein, bone morphogenetic (BMP)

n one of several genetically produced proteins that promotes the formation of bone and cartilage.

protein, C-reactive,

n a mucoprotein whose presence in serum is always abnormal. It may be present in a variety of inflammatory or necrotic disease processes. It is almost always present in the serum in acute rheumatic fever.

protein chemical score (CS),

n the result of a comparison between the amount of essential amino acid in a dietary protein and the amount in a reference protein.

protein, complementary,

n a protein that is incomplete on its own but may become complete when combined with other proteins to provide all the amino acids necessary for normal metabolism.

protein, complete,

n a protein that contains ample amounts of all the amino acids necessary for normal metabolism; animal proteins.

protein, deficiency,

n See deficiency, protein.

protein efficiency ratio (PER),

n a calculation designed to assess an individual protein's ability to sustain growth.

protein incomplete,

n a protein that is missing one or more of the amino acids necessary for normal metabolism; vegetable protein.

protein kinase,

n a protein that catalyzes the transfer of a phosphate group from adenosine triphosphate to produce a phosphoprotein.

protein, plasma,

n blood serum contains 6.5 to 8 grams percent of a complex mixture of proteins, including albumin, globulin, and fibrinogen.

protein, reference,

n a protein, usually egg, against which other proteins may be measured to evaluate their capability for supporting synthesis.

protein, spare,

n one of several roles a carbohydrate food may play in a well-balanced diet. Many foods that are technically classified as carbohydrates, including some whole grains and beans, contain relatively significant amounts of protein that may, therefore, be referred to as spare.

protein specificity,

n the arrangement of protein molecules in numerous spatial configurations to suit the special needs of the physical and chemical activities of the cell. The wide degree of variability of protein structures permits a high degree of specificity of tissue within one body. This characteristic of protein specificity is of great significance in blood transfusions, tissue grafts, and many allergic manifestations.

protein, thromboplastic,

n See factor III.

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plasma

the fluid portion of the blood in which corpuscles are suspended. Plasma is to be distinguished from serum, which is plasma from which the fibrinogen has been separated in the process of clotting.

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plasma bound

many electrolytes exist in plasma in a form in which they are bound to protein which reduces their lability and liability to loss in the urine, e.g. protein-bound iodine.

plasma cell gingitivitis-pharyngitis

see feline plasma cell gingivitis-pharyngitis.

plasma cell myeloma

see multiple myeloma.

plasma cell pododermatitis

a nonpainful swelling with ulceration and exuberant granulation tissue on the footpads of cats. The cause is unknown but believed to be immunological.

Plasma cell pododermatitis in a cat.

plasma clearing factor

a lipoprotein lipase which lipolyses the triglyceride in the chylomicrons of the plasma and hence clears it of cloudiness.

plasma exchange

the removal of plasma from withdrawn blood (plasmapheresis) and retransfusion of the formed elements and type-specific fresh-frozen plasma into the donor; done for removal of circulating antibodies or abnormal plasma components.

plasma expanders

see plasma volume expander.

fresh-frozen plasma

prepared from whole blood; a source of coagulation factors.

plasma protein

the heterologous group of proteins in circulating blood that includes albumin, lipoproteins, glycoproteins, transcortin, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, cholinesterase, α₂-macroglobulin, erythropoietin, transferrin, hemopexin, fibrinogen, plasminogen and the immunoglobulins (γ-globulins).

plasma protein:fibrinogen (PP:F) ratio

an indicator of significant changes in fibrinogen levels, taking into account dehydration.

plasma substitute

a fluid suitable for use as a replacement for plasma in the animal body. Usually a solution of gelatin or dextran.

therapeutic plasma concentration

a therapy-response relationship determined only by experiment; the plasma level which is matched by the desired therapeutic response.

plasma thromboplastin antecedent

clotting factor XI; see plasma thromboplastin antecedent.

plasma turbidity test

a qualitative test for fat absorption, performed by comparing the turbidity of plasma before and 2, 3 and 4 hours after the oral administration of fats, usually vegetable oil. Results are greatly influenced by delays in gastric emptying, so normally this test can only be relied upon to rule out malabsorption or maldigestion when evidence of absorption is found.

plasma volume

the estimation of plasma volume is essential to a complete knowledge of a patient's fluid status. The common technique is by the intravenous injection of a known amount of a dye such as Evans blue and the subsequent measurement of the dilution that it has undergone in a set time period.