Albumin is a protein in your bloodstream that supports your everyday health in several important ways. If you develop a condition called inflammation, you can experience a significant drop in your body's albumin levels. In turn, this drop can lead to an albumin deficiency disorder called hypoalbuminemia.
Albumin Basics
Albumin is produced in your liver and circulates throughout your bloodstream. It helps you repair your tissues and maintain growth, in addition to helping your body transport substances such as fatty acids, the protein bilirubin, the hormones thyroxine and cortisol, and certain medications. Albumin also helps stop the fluid content in your blood from leaking out of your blood vessels into your surrounding tissues. Under normal conditions, your blood levels of albumin range anywhere from 3.4 to 5.4 g/dL.
Inflammation Basics
Inflammation is your body's response to physical injury and the invasive presence of foreign bodies such as viruses and bacteria. It occurs when your immune system activates white blood cells and certain chemicals, then sends them to the point of invasion or injury. Some people develop acute inflammation, which develops relatively rapidly and lingers for anywhere from minutes to days, while your immune system does its work. Other people develop chronic inflammation, which continues long-term and in some cases never stops. This type of inflammation is reinforced by the ongoing release of chemicals from your immune system.
Effects on Albumin
Inflammation lowers your albumin levels by forcing your liver to divert some of its albumin production and make other proteins that are needed for your immune response. You can develop abnormally low albumin levels if you have either acute or chronic inflammation. Potential acute sources of low albumin include bladder and gum infections. Potential chronic sources include lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic kidney disease and arthritis. Possible symptoms of hypoalbuminemia include generalized body swelling, swelling that only appears in one part of your body, muscle cramps or weakness, lack of appetite and a buildup of fluid in your abdomen called ascites.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Your doctor can detect acute inflammation through outward signs and symptoms that include fever, skin redness, joint swelling, headaches, chills, muscle stiffness and fatigue. Chronic inflammation is typically detected with laboratory tests, including tests for the presence of a specific protein --- called C-reactive protein --- that appears in increased amounts in people when inflammation is present. Your doctor can check your albumin levels with a simple blood test. If you have hypoalbuminemia, your doctor will typically attempt to elevate your albumin by addressing the underlying cause of your condition.
