title: Reference values for serum protein and electrolyte study from Rwanda.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate reference values of serum proteins and electrolytes in a student population in Butare, Rwanda (altitude: 1768 m; barometric pressure: 629 mm Hg).
  
  
  METHODS
  A laboratory based cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The units of physiology and clinical chemistry, department of medical biology, Butare University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, National University of Rwanda, from February 2002 to May 2003.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young healthy adults were selected randomly from the students of the National University of Rwanda, using Epi-Info 6.04 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results mean and reference range (2.5th-97.5th percentile) in brackets - are as follows: total proteins: male: 7.3 (6.3-8.4) g/dL, female: 7.3 (6.5-8.5) g/dL; albumin: male: 4.3 (3.1-5.2) g/dL, female: 4.1 (3.2-5.0) g/dL; globulins: male: 3.1 (2.0-4.2) g/dL. female: 3.2 (2.1-4.2) g/dL; sodium: male: 138.5 (130-147) mmol/L, female: 139.8 (132-153) mmol/L; potassium: 4.0 (3.1-5.0) mmol/L both in male and in female; chloride: males: 104.4 (96-112) mmol/L, females: 106.1 (98-114) mmol/L; phosphates: male: 1.13 (0.65-1.59) mmol/L, female: 1.17 (0.71-1.52) mmol/L.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The values of serum proteins and electrolytes are comparable to classical sea level values; however there is a slight increase in serum chloride.
authors.affiliation: Service of Normal and Pathologic Physiology, Butare University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, National University of Rwanda.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gahutu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012432:Rwanda; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D012712:Serum Globulins / Q000032:analysis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D004573:Electrolytes; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012712:Serum Globulins