Hepatic panel
Albumin
Major plasma protein; reflects synthesis (liver), losses (kidney/gut), and inflammation.
Sample
Serum
Clinical reference range
3.5 to 5 g/dL
Adult
Conv: 3.5–5 g/dLFunc: 4.2–5 g/dL
Biology
What it measures
Synthesized exclusively by hepatocytes; half-life ~21 d. Negative acute-phase reactant.
Clinical use
Why we order it
Liver synthetic function, nutrition assessment (limited), volume status (oncotic pressure), prognostic in many diseases.
Lens · Clinical
Interpretation by lens
Clinical interpretation
Persistent albumin <3.5 with normal liver function points to nephrotic syndrome or PLE — order UACR or 24 h urine, fecal α1-AT clearance.
Differential
Causes of abnormal values
Causes of HIGH
- ↑Dehydration
- ↑High-protein diet (small effect)
Causes of LOW
- ↓Cirrhosis
- ↓Nephrotic syndrome
- ↓Protein-losing enteropathy
- ↓Severe inflammation/sepsis
- ↓Malnutrition (chronic)
- ↓Burns
Pitfalls
Pre-analytic & interpretation traps
- !Low albumin in inflammation reflects reprioritized hepatic synthesis, not necessarily malnutrition.
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