A/G ratio

[Andiamo1]

Anyone with advanced fibrosis monitored their A/G ratio?  Mine is slightly elevated, but I have no previous data to compare with.  I am curious to know if it fluctuates depending on how liver healthy we have been.  Does a drink lower it?

[Sunshine0930]

Just the fact that you are asking about how "one" drink might affects your results:    No "alcoholic" just drinks "one".   Just something to ponder.

[Andiamo1]

I had two beers the night before.  Now that Mike has explained how the ratio works, I no longer think beer had anything to do with it.  The two factors are albumin and globulin.  If my liver function was impaired, the albumin would have been low.  Instead, my globulin was high indicating inflammation of some sort.

Take care,
Eric

[nygirl7]

Sorry Eric this was one subject I have absolutely no knowledge of whatsoever in this world......never even heard of it really a/g levels.......

Too much to  learn isn't there - even for old timers who think they know it all like me ;) (the day that happens we can have a party!)

Did you have the beer right before the test is what I was wondering? Or like the night before? I'm just nosey I have no scientific data to say squat...it just popped into my mind.

[Andiamo1]

Thanks for the info

[nygirl7]

God I haven't had a Rusty Nail in 30 years there used to be a great bar named that..........ah the days the days.......

[GoofyDad]

" doubt that one beer would skewer the results"

Nor skewer you're liver either - unless it was maybe a "Rusty Nail" :)

har-dee-har...

[mikesimon]

"Some laboratories also report the calculated ratio of albumin to globulins, termed the A/G ratio. Normally, there is a little more albumin than globulins, giving a normal A/G ratio of slightly over 1. Because disease states affect the relative changes in albumin and globulins in different ways, this may provide a clue to your doctor as to the cause of the change in protein levels. A low A/G ratio may reflect overproduction of globulins, such as seen in multiple myeloma or autoimmune diseases, or underproduction of albumin, such as occurs with cirrhosis, or selective loss of albumin from the circulation, as occurs with kidney disease (nephrotic syndrome). A high A/G ratio suggests underproduction of immunoglobulins as may be seen in some genetic deficiencies and in some leukemias. More specific tests, such as albumin, liver enzyme tests, and serum protein electrophoresis must be performed to make an accurate diagnosis."
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/tp/test.html

From what I have read a slightly elevated ratio is usually nothing to be concerned with. Of course I always like to hear what the doctor thinks.
I doubt that one beer would skewer the results but I have no citation in support of that - just a lack of citations that would suggest the contrary.

Mike

[Andiamo1]

The A/G ratio is albumin/globulin; lower is worse and that was my question.  Will a drink make the ratio lower (worse).

I never paid attention to it before, since my Alt and Ast were off the charts.  Now that I am SVR, my enzyme levels are normal and the only abnormal readings is elevated globulin and that make the ratio abnormally low.

My doc said that I can have an occasional drink now and I did have that beer before the test to see if it made a difference :(.

[franke566]

A drink?  Hardly>  Many drinks will elevate your levels and cause further damage.  One beer makes me sick as a dog.  Miss my beer!