Serum proteins

PathologyLow blood albumin levels (hypoalbuminemia) canbe caused by:• Liver disease; cirrhosis of the liver is most common• Excess excretion by the kidneys (as in nephrotic syndrome)• Burns (plasma loss in the absence of skin barrier)• Redistribution (hemodilution [as in pregnancy], increasedvascular permeability or decreased lymphatic clearance)• Acute disease states (referred to as a negative acute-phaseprotein)• Mutation causing an albuminemia (very rare)