Albumin: how to interpret the rate in the blood (albuminemia) and urine (albuminuria)?

Albumin level in the blood (albuminemia), what is it?

Albumin, what is it? " Albumin is a protein that is synthesized by the cells of the liver : in the body, 60% of the albumin is in the tissues, 40% in the blood explains Dr. François Blanchecotte, doctor of pharmacy and president of the Syndicate of Biologists (SDB) It is also noted that albumin has a half-life of 20 days, which means that we lose half of our stock within 20 days.

What's the point ? Albumin acts as a "transporter" in our body: " it circulates in the blood and it carries vitamins, hormones ... into the tissues "develops Dr. Blanchecotte.

To know : a "normal" rate albumin is between 40 grams and 47 grams per liter of blood. Albuminemia (ie albumin levels in the blood) is higher in men than in women (because men have more blood!) And there are also more in the growing newborn (between 30 grams and 50 grams per liter of blood).

Too high blood albumin level (hyperalbuminemia): what can be the causes?

To know : " we never measure albumin in isolationsays Dr. Blanchecotte. This dosage is part of a blood test called electrophoresis of proteins. "

TheHyperalbuminemia (ie: an abnormally high level of albumin in the blood) is very rare: " it usually corresponds to a situation of hemoconcentration, ie a concentration of the blood too high "explains the specialist.

Hyperalbuminemia can therefore be linked to several states:

• Dehydration,
• Poor circulation in the blood vessels,
• Serious burns all over the body,

" In the hospital, patients undergoing infusion may also have artificial hyperalbuminaemia because the serum in the infusion also contains albumin "adds Dr. Blanchecotte.

Low albumin level (hypoalbuminemia): what can be the causes?

Thehypoalbuminemia (which corresponds to a low level of albumin in the blood) is more common than hyperalbuminemia. In particular, hypoalbuminemia may occur in the following situations:

• Undernutrition (because albumin comes partly from the diet),
• Inflammatory pathology (osteoarthritis, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis ...) because the albumin passes into the tissues,
• Hemorrhage (internal or external),
• Hepatic failure (because albumin is produced by the liver).

What is albuminuria? In the healthy patient, the albumin level in the urine - we speak of albuminuria - is almost zero. Indeed, the "filtration system" of the body which is at the level of the kidneys (it is a function filled more precisely by the glomeruli) does not allow the passage of this protein in the urine. The presence of albumin in the urine may therefore reflect a renal problem; in the most severe cases, it may be kidney failure.

Thanks to Dr. François Blanchecotte, Doctor of Pharmacy and President of Union of Biologists (SDB).

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