Total protein + Albumin

General information:

Albumin is the largest protein in the plasma and is a carbohydrate free protein with a molecular mass of about 66.3 kDa. It is synthesized in the liver only in amounts of about 120 mg / kg body weight / for 24 hours. Its molecular mass is 66.3 kD. About 2/3 of the albumin is found in the blood circulating in the vessels (160-240 g) and about 1/3 (80-120 g) in the intracellular space. Its synthesis increases (about 2x) with a fall in oncotic pressure and decreases from some cytokines, especially IL-6. Albumin is also contained in the interstitial fluid where it is in larger amounts than plasma. A fall in endothelial function, as observed in sepsis, results in a rapid decrease in plasma albumin concentration.
In the intravascular space, albumin provides oncotic pressure and is the most important transport protein that carries many insoluble or hardly water soluble substances - fatty acids, amino acids, bilirubin, hormones, medications.

Elevated albumin levels are referred to as hyperalbuminemia, which is a rare condition, especially in dehydration of the body or in venous over-administration of plasma and other protein-containing preparations.
Of much greater importance is the amount of albumin and the ratio of total poin in various disease processes: chronic liver diseases (cirrhosis, fibrosis, autoimmune hepatitis), chronic renal failure, oncological diseases, diagnosis of edema conditions.

Hepatic diseases are the most common in which the albumin level is regularly monitored. In chronic processes (decompensation), hepatic synthesis is impaired and its values ​​fall. It should be noted that acute hepatitis does not immediately notice a change due to the fact that the half-life is 20 days.
Swelling processes with different genesis, ascites, edema, sepsis also decrease plasma albumin levels.

Sample required:

Venous blood in the morning in fasting

Ключови думи:

Albumin, kidney, hepatic function, diseases