Hypoalbuminemia

From Anvita Health Wiki

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Etiology 3 Physiology 4 Laboratory 5 Complications 6 More General Terms 7 Additional Terms 8 References

Introduction

• An abnormally low amount of albumin in the blood

Etiology

• inadequate protein intake
• active inflammation
• liver disease
• renal disease

Physiology

• albumin is the major serum protein that maintains plasma colloidal osmotic pressure (pressure within blood vessels) & transports fatty acids, bilirubin, & many drugs as well as certain hormones, such as cortisol & thyroxine, through the blood

Laboratory

• serum albumin

• a value < 3.5 mg/dL is clinically significant

• renal function tests
• liver function tests
• urinalysis & urine protein
• protein electrophoresis as indicated
• for unknown reasons, hypoalbuminemia causes prolongation of the thrombin time

Complications

• associated with development of pressure ulcers

More General Terms

• sign/symptom

Additional Terms

• albumin
• albumin in serum
• hyperalbuminemia

References

Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998

hypoalbuminemia