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Albumin: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "<section begin="clinical biochemistry" />'''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. 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.<section end="...") |
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<section begin="clinical biochemistry" />'''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]]. | <section begin="clinical biochemistry" />'''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.<section end="clinical biochemistry" /> | 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.<section end="clinical biochemistry" /> | ||
[[Category:Physiology]] | [[Category:Physiology]] | ||