A high level of plasma albumin – greater than 50g/l – is usually indicative of either severe dehydration or a sample that was taken from an arm at an excessively long cuffing period.

Hypoalbuminaemia, or low albumin, results in oedema and can be caused by a variety of conditions.
There are four general causes:

1) Reduced production due to chronic liver disease e.g. cirrhosis, indicating severe liver damage with subsequent reduced albumin synthesis.
2) Severe malnutrition/starvation or malabsorption states whereby total body reserves are exhausted over time.
3) Increased loss depending on the source.
– Renal, such nephrotic syndrome, results in proteinuria.
– Protein losing enteropathies which occur in the gut, Crohns and Ulcerative colitis.
– Severe acute loss due to a haemorrhage, severe burns, or chronic skin disease eg: exfoliative dermatitis.
4) Falsely reduced levels can occur in the hospitalized patient as a result of rapid or prolonged intravenous fluid therapy.