Which two clinical conditions decrease serum albumin?

Which two clinical conditions decrease serum albumin?

• A. Inflammation and Hypervolemia
• B. Malnutrition and Dehydration
• C. Liver Disease and Kidney Disease
• D. Infections and Pancreatitis

Answer: (A)

Serum albumin falls when there’s not enough production, there’s loss or leakage, or when the blood gets diluted by excess fluid. Inflammation triggers an acute-phase response: the liver shifts away from making albumin and inflammatory mediators increase capillary permeability, so albumin moves into the interstitial space and the circulating level drops. Hypervolemia, or too much fluid in the bloodstream, dilutes the plasma, lowering the concentration of albumin even if total amount hasn’t changed much. Dehydration would concentrate albumin, not lower it; other causes like malnutrition or liver/kidney disease are possible, but the pair that best illustrates a decrease through both reduced production/redistribution and dilution is inflammation plus excess fluid.

Serum albumin falls when there’s not enough production, there’s loss or leakage, or when the blood gets diluted by excess fluid. Inflammation triggers an acute-phase response: the liver shifts away from making albumin and inflammatory mediators increase capillary permeability, so albumin moves into the interstitial space and the circulating level drops. Hypervolemia, or too much fluid in the bloodstream, dilutes the plasma, lowering the concentration of albumin even if total amount hasn’t changed much. Dehydration would concentrate albumin, not lower it; other causes like malnutrition or liver/kidney disease are possible, but the pair that best illustrates a decrease through both reduced production/redistribution and dilution is inflammation plus excess fluid.