Albumin Lab Values
May 08, 2023•4 min
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Episode description
Overview
- Albumin
- Normal Value Range
- Pathophysiology
- Special Considerations
- Too High: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments
- Too Low: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments
- Normal value range
- 3.5 – 6.0 g/dL
- Pathophysiology
- Produced in the liver
- Main protein of plasma
- Responsible for maintaining oncotic pressure
- Draws fluid into blood vessel
- "Protein pulls"
- Refer to Fluid & Electrolytes lesson 01.02 Fluid Pressures
- Transport protein
- Serves as amino acid
- Nutrition
- Poor indicator of nutrition
- Due to long half-life
- Pre-Albumin
- Better indicator of nutrition
- Poor indicator of nutrition
- Special considerations
- Green top typically
- Usually sent with several other labs
- Chemistries
- Liver function tests
- Nutritional labs
- Elevated Albumin levels
- Dehydration
- Excess infusion of albumin
- Decreased albumin levels
- Liver disease
- Fluid loss
- Fistula
- Hemorrhage
- Kidney Disease
- Burns
- Congestive heart failure
- Long term poor nutrition
- Inadequate intake
- Inflammation
- Assess patient's pre-albumin for nutritional status or indications of acute illness
- Lab Values
- Nutrition
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