Answer to Question #85366 in General Chemistry for maddie

Question

a sample of blood has an albumin concentration of 60 g L ^-1, is the patient healthy or not? Why?

Answer 1

Albumin comprises 60% of the total serum protein and 60 to 80% of colloid osmotic pressure. Normally, about 4% of the total body albumin is replenished each day. The rate of production is dependent on the supply of amino acids, plasma oncotic pressure, inhibitory cytokine (especially IL-6) concentration, and the number of functioning hepatocytes.

Plasma albumin levels are low in neonates, typically between 28 and 44 g/L. Adult levels are reached after the first week of life. Levels are slightly higher in children (45 – 55 g/L) between the age of 6 years and young adulthood. Thereafter, levels decline to typical adult levels. Albumin levels show a downward trend throughout pregnancy and with aging, especially after age 70. Serum albumin levels are normally lower in hospitalized than ambulatory patients. Albumin levels can decrease as much as 10 g/L after a patient becomes recumbent. Albumin concentration may decrease after crystalloid infusion or in patients with fluid retention.

So if a sample of blood has an albumin concentration of 60 g L ^-1, the patient is healthy.