Causes of Hypoalbuminemia

[Show Table Outline]

Decreased Synthesis of Albumin

•  Malnutrition (starvation, malabsorption iron deficiency)
• Chronic diseases (tuberculosis)
• Acute infections (hepatitis, brucellosis)
• Chronic liver disease
• Collagen disorders (scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus)

Drugs

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Azathioprine (Imuran)
• Conjugated estrogens (Premarin)
• Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
• Dextran
• Ethinyl estradiol (Estinyl)
• Heroin
• Mestranol/norethynodrel (Enovid)
• Niacin
• Nicotinyl alcohol (Roniacol)

Increased Loss of Albumin

• Ascites
• Burns (severe)
• Nephrotic syndrome
• Chronic renal failure

Increased Catabolism of Albumin

• Malignancies (leukemias, advanced tumors)
• Trauma

Multifactorial Causes

• Cirrhosis
• Congestive heart failure
• Pregnancy
• Toxemia of pregnancy
• Diabetes mellitus
• Myxedema
• Rheumatic fever
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Hypocalcemia

[Table Outline]

• Decreased Synthesis of Albumin
• Increased Loss of Albumin
• Increased Catabolism of Albumin
• Multifactorial Causes