Serum haptoglobins in health and disease

Haptoglobin is a serum protein having the mobility of a2 globulins, which are able to combine with hemoglobin and related chromoproteins. Serum haptoglobin estimation in normal individuals is reported by various workers using different methods. A low concentration of haptoglobin in serum is reported in hemolytic disorders. In the present study we have estimated the serum haptoglobin level in 100 normal individuals using the method of separation by Sephadex G 100. Serum is treated with excess of hemoglobin solution and is allowed to pass through the Sephadex column. In this way haptoglobin hemoglobin complex is separated from free hemoglobin and the amount of haptoglobin is measured and represented as hemoglobin binding capacity per 100 ml of serum. The normal range for the local population is found to be 34-157 mg compared to the value of 46-150 mg reported by previous workers using the electrophoretic method. Further investigations were carried out to find out the haptoglobin levels in renal disorders. Haptoglobin estimations were done on patients suffering from chronic renal failure, nephrotic syndrome and nephritis. In all these three groups of patients a significant increase in serum haptoglobin levels was observed. Patients with renal failure undergoing dialysis have shown either increased values or the upper limit of normal values.