Why Order this Test?
- Liver disease symptoms may be present such as:
- Yellowing of eyes or skin known as Jaundice.
- Weakness and fatigue.
- Unexplained weight loss. No this is not good. You need to know why this is happening.
- Loss of appetite.
- Abdominal swelling and or pain.
- Dark Urine and LIght colored stool.
- Itching - Pruritis.
Low Albumin can indicate diseases that the kidneys can not prevent albumin from leaking from the blood into the urine. If low, a doctor would order a Liver enzyme test to determine which type of disease was present.
Albuminn is made by the liver. It makes up about 60% of the total protein in the blood and plays many roles. This test measures the level of albumin in the blood.
Albumin keeps fluid from leaking out of blood vessels; nourishes tissues; and transports hormones vitamins, drugs, and substances like calcium throughout the body. Levels of albumin may decrease, to a greater or lesser degree, when conditions interfere with its production by the liver, increase protein breakdown, increase protein loss via the kidneys, and/or expand plasma volume (dilutin
Damaged or diseased kidneys begin to lose their ability to conserve albumin and other proteins. Commonly seen in chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension. In nephrotic syndrome, very high amounts of albumin are lost through the kidneys.
Test Prep: None Indicated