Abstract
Introduction: Recent studies have demonstrated that hypoalbuminemia and low albumin globulin ratio are important predictors of long term mortality in several cancers. To the best of our knowledge, studies on albumin globulin ratio in lung cancer patients has not been carried out in our population.
Aim: To study the alteration in serum albumin, globulin and albumin globulin ratio in patients with histologically diagnosed lung cancer.
Materials and methods: This was a retrospective analysis conducted in the department of pulmonary medicine in a tertiary care centre in Kerala. The case records of 21 patients histologically diagnosed as lung cancer were analysed. Blood samples were collected for testing of total protein and albumin before starting treatment. Patients with comorbidities that could alter albumin globulin ratio such as chronic liver disease, renal disease and other chronic inflammatory diseases were excluded from the study. Albumin-globulin ratio (AGR) was calculated using the equation AGR=Albumin (Total protein-albumin).
Results: The total number of patients included in the study was 21. The most common histopathological type of lung cancer observed in the study was adenocarcinoma (14/21). Other types were squamous cell (3), small cell (1), carcinoid tumor (1) and poorly differentiated cancer (2). Albumin globulin ratio was < 1 in 14 patients. In another 3 patients the ratio was 1.03. Serum globulin was elevated (>3.5) in nine patients. Serum albumin was low (<3.5) in fourteen patients. Total protein was increased above normal (>7) in two patients in whom globulin was very high (>5).
Conclusion: Cancer related inflammation has been a subject of interest in the field of cancer research. This study supports the recently changed concept that cancer cells are capable of producing immunoglobulins as against the older concept that immunoglobulins are produced by B cells alone.
Keywords: Lung cancer, Immunoglobulin, Albumin, Globulin.
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Corresponding Author
Mithun Harold Thomas
Senior Resident, Department of General Medicine,
Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Phone number: 9809587773, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i2.170
