Why albumin is high

What do the results mean? If your albumin levels are lower than normal, it may indicate one of the following conditions: Liver disease, including cirrhosis Kidney disease Malnutrition Infection Inflammatory bowel disease Thyroid disease Higher than normal levels of albumin may indicate dehydration or severe diarrhea.

References American Liver Foundation [Internet]. New York: American Liver Foundation; c Liver Function Tests [updated Jan 25; cited Apr 26]; [about 3 screens]. Hepatitis Central; c— What is Albumin? Albumin; p. Johns Hopkins Medicine [Internet]. Washington D. Albumin: The Test [updated Apr 8; cited Apr 26]; [about 4 screens]. Bethesda MD : U. They are continually monitored by our internal peer-review process and if we see anyone making material science errors, we don't let them write for us again.

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Note that each number in parentheses [1, 2, 3, etc. Albumin is a blood protein that delivers vitamins, minerals, and medications all around the body. It is often tested because it can provide important clues about your overall health. Read on to learn more about this important protein, what high and low values mean, and how to improve your health based on your albumin levels. Albumin maintains the osmotic pressure that pulls water into the circulatory system. The pressure inside blood vessels exerted by pumping of the heart hydrostatic pressure creates a force to push fluids out of veins and arteries into the surrounding tissue.

Albumin prevents this by drawing fluids in due to osmosis. Albumin binds hormones, vitamins, drugs, fatty acids, minerals, and other substances in the blood, carries them throughout the body, and delivers them to body tissues.

Albumin has many locations where substances can attach to. Albumin is also the main antioxidant in blood. It works by binding with metals and reacting with free radicals, which prevents them from reacting with other parts of the body and causing damage [ 2 ]. Despite the similarity in the names, prealbumin is not a precursor of albumin. Transthyretin is a more modern name for prealbumin. It occurs in lower concentrations in blood than albumin and is primarily responsible for moving thyroid hormones and vitamin A around the body.

An albumin blood test measures the amount of albumin in the blood. Low albumin is common in many health problems , so albumin levels are often checked in conjunction with other tests to help diagnose diseases, determine if other tests are needed, or to check if treatments for a condition are working.

An albumin blood test is a standard part of the following sets of blood tests:. The exact range for normal albumin levels depends on the specific laboratory that performs the blood test, however, it is usually around 3. A low albumin level is anything that falls below the normal range as defined by the laboratory performing the test, usually less than 3. The condition of having low albumin is called hypoalbuminemia. Your doctor will interpret your albumin result, taking into account your medical history, symptoms, and other test results.

Afterward, the site may be slightly sore. Being dehydrated can cause higher albumin levels. Certain medicines can raise your albumin levels. These include insulin, steroids, and hormones. If you are pregnant, your albumin levels may be lower. Medicines such as birth control pills may also lower your albumin levels. You don't need to prepare for this test. But be sure your healthcare provider knows about all medicines, herbs, vitamins, and supplements you are taking.

This includes medicines that don't need a prescription and any illicit drugs you may use. Search Encyclopedia. Albumin Blood Does this test have other names? Your doctor can also use a serum albumin test to check up on certain medical conditions you have, including chronic pancreatitis or kidney disease. The results of the test can indicate whether such conditions are improving or getting worse.

Certain medications such as insulin , anabolic steroids, and growth hormones may affect the results of the test. Your doctor may tell you to change the dosage of your medication or stop taking your medication before the test. Your healthcare provider draws a small sample of blood from your arm to use for the serum albumin test. First, they use an alcohol swab or antiseptic wipe to clean your skin. Then they tie a band around your upper arm to make your veins swell with blood.

This helps them find a vein more easily. They may fill one or more vials. Microalbuminuria test ». A serum albumin test is often part of a series of tests that check liver and kidney function. The typical value for serum albumin in blood is 3. Low albumin levels can indicate a number of health conditions, including:.

If your doctor believes your low serum albumin levels are due to liver disease, they may order more tests to determine the specific type of liver disease. Types of liver disease include hepatitis , cirrhosis , and hepatocellular necrosis.