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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 ...
Analyse haemoglobin and haematocrit levels. A solution of 25% albumin is used that is administered for only 4 hours in order to avoid pulmonary edema. Haemoglobin and haematocrit levels are analysed again: if the haematocrit value is less than the initial value (a sign of correct expansion) the diuretics are administered for at least 30 minutes.
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)
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.
α 2-Macroglobulin levels are increased when the serum albumin levels are low, [18] which is most commonly seen in nephrotic syndrome, a condition wherein the kidneys start to leak out some of the smaller blood proteins. Because of its size, α 2-macroglobulin is retained in the bloodstream.
Hypoproteinemia is a condition where there is an abnormally low level of protein in the blood. There are several causes that all result in edema once serum protein levels fall below a certain threshold.
The serum-ascites albumin gradient or gap (SAAG) is a calculation used in medicine to help determine the cause of ascites. [1] The SAAG may be a better discriminant than the older method of classifying ascites fluid as a transudate versus exudate. [2] The formula is as follows: SAAG = (serum albumin) − (albumin level of ascitic fluid).