Description
Haptoglobin (abbreviated as Hp) is the protein that is encoded by the HP gene in the humans. In blood plasma, haptoglobin binds to free hemoglobin, released from erythrocytes with high affinity and thereby inhibits its oxidative activity. The haptoglobin-hemoglobin joined will be then removed by the reticuloendothelial system mostly by the spleen.
The haptoglobin assay is used to screen and monitor for the intravascular hemolytic anemia. In intravascular hemolysis the free hemoglobin will be released into circulation and then haptoglobin will be binding to the hemoglobin. This can cause a decline in haptoglobin levels.
Haptoglobin can be elevated in many inflammatory diseases such as ulcerative colitis, acute rheumatic disease, heart attack, and severe infections as it is considered as an acute-phase protein.
A result that is lower than 45 milligrams haptoglobin per deciliter of blood means that the red blood cells are being destroyed more quickly than they are being build.
Haptoglobin - Decreased haptoglobin is found in hemolytic disease, hepatocellular disease and infectious mononucleosis. Increased level is found in inflammatory disease in the presence of tissue necrosis and in general acute inflammatory conditions.
