Hypoproteinemia

Under clinical conditions shifts among the fraction associated with total protein values within the normal range of 6.5—7.9 per cent are most frequently encountered, that is associated with normoproteinemia (see figure 96, page 338). Hyperproteinemia associated with obvious increase of the blood proteins is relatively rarely seen in clinical medicine, while serum protein diminution or hypoproteinemia is much more frequently found.

Decreased albumin is a common form of dysproteinemia. Fundamentally, the decrease can be attributed to either albumin loss or failure of albumin synthesis. Depending on the stage of the disease, it can be associated with either slight hyperproteinemia (acute stage), normoproteinemia (progressive stage), or, in its advanced stages, hypoproteinemia. Therefore, the total serum protein is not a reliable index of albumin status and albumin must be determined.