Prealbumin (Transthyretin/TTR/PAB)

Prealbumin Human Plasma Partially Purified
  • 1 mg
  • 5 mg

The name prealbumin comes from the fact that this protein migrates just slightly anodal (above) albumin in serum protein electrophoresis, though it is now usually referred to as transthyretin. The main function of prealbumin is to bind and transport thyroid hormones and also to bind to and stabilize retinol binding protein1. A deleterious role of prealbumin is that mutated and even wild type prealbumin can result in the production of amyloid proteins2,3 resulting in amyloidosis, a serious disease in which the build up of insoluble protein deposits causes damage to a variety of internal organs.

Clinically, prealbumin has been associated with malnutrition and is very useful in monitoring nutritional status in a variety of conditions4-7. Prealbumin has also been associated with many pathological conditions, including certain cancers8,9, liver pathologies10,11, infection and sepsis12,13 and end-stage renal disease14. Increased prealbumin levels have been noted in the cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients15.

ADULT PREALBUMIN REFERENCE RANGE1: 20 – 40 mg/dL
REFERENCES
  1. 1. Burtis, C.A., Ashwood, E.R. and Bruns, E.R. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry, 4th Edition, W.B. Saunders Company, 2006.
  2. 2. Costa, P.P., et. al. Amyloid Fibril Protein Related to Prealbumin in Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy. Proc Natl Acad Sci, 75, 4499-4503, 1978.
  3. 3. Westermark, P. et. al., Fibril in Senile Systemic Amyloidosis is Derived from Normal Transthyretin. Proc Natl Acad Sci, 87, 2843-2845, 1990.
  4. 4. Ingenbleek, Y., et. al. Measurement of Prealbumin as Index of Protein-Calorie Malnutrition. The Lancet, 300, 106-109, 1972.
  5. 5. Avram, M.M., et. al. Predictors of Survival in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: The Importance of Prealbumin and Other Nutritional Metabolic Markers. Am J Kidney Dis, 23, 91-98, 1994.
  6. 6. Mears, E. Outcomes of Continuous Process Improvement of a Nutritional Care Program Incorporating Serum Prealbumin Measurements. Nutrition, 12, 479-484, 1996.
  7. 7. Miller, I.D., et. al. Immunolocalization of Prealbumin as a Marker for Carcinoid Tumors. Journal of Pathology, 143, 199-204, 1984.
  8. 8. Suresh, U.R., et al. Prealbumin in the Diagnosis of Bronchopulmonary Carcinoid Tumors. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 44, 573-575, 1991.
  9. 9. Mahlck, C.G. and Grankvist, K. Plasma Prealbumin in Women with Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma. Gynecol Obstest Invest, 37, 135-140, 1994.
  10. 10. Hutchinson, D.R. Prealbumin as an Index of Liver Function After Acute Paracetamol Poisoning. The Lancet, 316, 121-123, 1980.
  11. 11. Jain, S.K., et. al. Study of Serum Prealbumin and Serum Alpha Fetoprotein in Cases of Fulminant Hepatic Failure. J Assoc Physicians India, 43, 462-463, 1995.
  12. 12. Fabris, C., et. al. Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Blood Prealbumin in the Course of Neonatal Infectious Diseases of Bacterial Origin. Minerva Pediatrica, 41, 297-300, 1989.
  13. 13. Jenny, J.Y., et. al. C-Reactive Protein and Transthyretin in Early Diagnosis of Infection after Open Fractures of the Lower Limbs (a Preliminary Study). Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot, 85, 321-327, 1999.
  14. 14. Mathews, K. Using Serum Prealbumin Concentration to Monitor Risk in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients. Nature Reviews Nephrology, 2, 60-61, 2006.
  15. 15. Krzalic, L. Prealbumin Content of Cerebrospinal Fluid and Sera in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis. Clinica Chimica Acta, 124, 339-341, 1982.

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