Albumin

Albumin, more specifically human serum albumin, is a plasma protein whose main function is to transport bioactive molecules and to maintain oncotic pressure. It's a negative acute phase protein. Albumin is the most abundant plasma protein, accounting for 60% of plasma proteins.

Approximately 12 - 24 g of albumin is synthesised in the liver daily, but hepatocytes can more than double their synthetic capacity if needed. The normal serum level is approx 35 - 45 g/L.

Hypoalbuminaemia

Hypoalbuminaemia is characterised by serum albumin < 35 g/L. It's a common finding in hospitalised patients. It may be due to:

• Being bedridden (reduces albumin levels by 10%)
• Acute phase (inflammation)
• Liver failure
• Malnutrition/malabsorption
• Nephrotic syndrome
• Preeclampsia
• Protein-losing enteropathy
• Burn injury
• Constrictive pericarditis

Hyperalbuminaemia

Hyperalbuminaemia is usually a sign of dehydration.

Bisalbuminaemia

Bisalbuminaemia is a harmless disorder where a person has two "peaks" in the albumin fraction on serum electrophoresis, showing that the person produces both normal and a mutated abnormal albumin.