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hypoalbuminemia

hypoalbuminemia

9.3
A low level of an important protein in the blood that can cause swelling
  • noun
  • /ˌhaɪpoʊˌælbjuˈmiːniə/
  • Specialized
: hipoalbuminemia
  • Blood tests can detect hypoalbuminemia, revealing abnormally low levels of albumin in the bloodstream.

Examples

  • VLS is defined retrospectively by at least 2 of the following 3 signs: hypotension, peripheral edema, and hypoalbuminemia (2.8 g/dl).

    Academic text (2007)
  • When patients exhibit hypoalbuminemia, they may experience swelling in their limbs due to fluid retention.

  • Hypoalbuminemia is an independent mortality predictor 90.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Albumin oxidation causes hypoalbuminemia in sepsis 83, 84.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Vascular leak syndrome (VLS) is characterized by hypotension, peripheral edema, and hypoalbuminemia.

    Academic text (2007)
  • DD may cause renal damage leading to proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia; thus, pre-existing hypoalbuminemia is thought to predispose patients to VLS and is a contraindication to treatment with DD 11.

    Academic text (2007)
  • DD may cause renal damage leading to proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia; thus, pre-existing hypoalbuminemia is thought to predispose patients to VLS and is a contraindication to treatment with DD 11.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Doctors often monitor hypoalbuminemia because it may signal severe underlying health conditions.

Synonyms

analbuminemia
vshypoalbuminemia
  • Specialized
9.9

A very low level of the protein albumin in the blood

has identical meaning but uses an alternative medical term

Surface Forms

Morphology

hypoalbuminemia = albuminemia (opaque) = hypo + albumin + emia

The word is formed by adding hypo- to albuminemia, so the immediate derivation is straightforward.

Etymology

Hypoalbuminemia is made of three parts: hypo- meaning 'low', albumin from a Latin word meaning 'white', like in albino, because this protein was first found in egg white, and -emia meaning 'blood'. So hypoalbuminemia means 'low albumin in the blood', which explains the medical condition of having too little of this blood protein.