Haptoglobin Unit Converter

Haptoglobin is a protein produced by the liver that binds free hemoglobin released when red blood cells are destroyed or break down naturally. By capturing free hemoglobin, haptoglobin prevents it from damaging the kidneys and other tissues.

The haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex is carried to the liver, where the hemoglobin is broken down and its iron is recycled. When red blood cells are being destroyed rapidly, haptoglobin is consumed faster than the liver can replace it, causing levels to drop.

Haptoglobin is also an acute-phase reactant, meaning its levels rise during inflammation or infection. This dual role makes it useful both as a marker for red blood cell destruction and as an indicator of inflammatory activity.

Haptoglobin is synthesized primarily by the liver and released into the bloodstream as a glycoprotein.