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Hypoalbuminemia (or hypoalbuminaemia) is a medical sign in which the level of albumin in the blood is low. [1] This can be due to decreased production in the liver , increased loss in the gastrointestinal tract or kidneys , increased use in the body, or abnormal distribution between body compartments.
Albumin levels are decreased in chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis. It is also decreased in nephrotic syndrome, where it is lost through the urine. The consequence of low albumin can be edema since the intravascular oncotic pressure becomes lower than the extravascular space. An alternative to albumin measurement is prealbumin, which is ...
There are typically low levels in haemolytic anaemia (haptoglobin is a suicide molecule which binds with free haemoglobin released from red blood cells and these complexes are rapidly removed by phagocytes). Haptoglobin is raised as part of the acute phase response, resulting in a typical elevation in the alpha-2 zone during inflammation.
For most substances presented, the optimal levels are the ones normally found in the population as well. More specifically, optimal levels are generally close to a central tendency of the values found in the population. However, usual and optimal levels may differ substantially, most notably among vitamins and blood lipids, so these tables give ...
Concentrations below the reference range usually reflect low albumin concentration, for instance in liver disease or acute infection. Rarely, low total protein may be a sign of immunodeficiency. Concentrations above the reference range are found in paraproteinaemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukaemia or any condition causing an increase in ...
Hypoalbuminemia means low blood albumin levels. [13] This can be caused by: Liver disease; cirrhosis of the liver is most common; Excess excretion by the kidneys (as in nephrotic syndrome) Excess loss in bowel (protein-losing enteropathy, e.g., Ménétrier's disease) Burns (plasma loss in the absence of skin barrier)
Hypocalcaemia may be relative; calcium levels should be adjusted based on the albumin level and ionized calcium levels should be checked. Microcytic hypochromic anaemia: iron deficiency caused by the loss of ferritin (compound used to store iron in the body). It is iron-therapy resistant.
This constellation of symptoms contrasts with the classical presentation of nephrotic syndrome (excessive proteinuria >3.5 g/day, low plasma albumin levels (hypoalbuminemia) <3 g/L, generalized edema, and hyperlipidemia). [8] [10] Signs and symptoms that are consistent with nephritic syndrome include: Hematuria (red blood cells in the urine) [11]