not good with lab values. Albumin 1.6

what would cause such a low albumin level? I dont want to give much info about the patient but they had severe edema, creatinine of 1.1. very little urine output. alt 300 ast 25. bun 11

I left work today and am still worried about the labs. Dr. not so much.
Albumin normal range is the same as Potassium (3.5 to 5.0), which is how I remember it. I think malnutrition causes a low Albumin. Maybe a bit dilutional too.

Normal albumin is 3.5-5. Is this patient in renal failure? Albumin dips with poor nutrition.......

Different things can cause low albumin levels--liver disease, malnutrition, kidney disease. I would suspect nephrotic syndrome, since you mentioned the low UOP.

renal is my concern but I don't know if it would be from a hemorrhage. Really concerned for her healing post a surgery. also pre eclampsia

HUmmm...pre eclampsia, low albumin, low urine output and a post op. without protien you can't heal. I am concerned with the collection of circumatances and a syndrome comes to mind.....google ithttp://tinyurl.com/6adb4zx

DKA may cause low albumin as well. Usually accompanied by liver/renal failure

It used to be that low albumin was thought to be a great indicator of poor nutritional status. That is not the case.Albumin is a great indicator, however, of someone's general health and prognosis. An albumin of 1.6 is quite low and tells you the patient is extremely sick. Pts with albumins < 1.0 often end up dying. While your pt's cre/bun are not bad, the urine output speaks the kidney not getting enough blood flow to create urine. Many times they will give albumin replacement in this case to try to keep more bodily fluid in the blood vessels and help with all that edema.

Quote from Esme12HUmmm...pre eclampsia, low albumin, low urine output and a post op. without protien you can't heal. I am concerned with the collection of circumatances and a syndrome comes to mind.....google ithttp://tinyurl.com/6adb4zx

Didn't think DKA cause glucose was wnl. Didn't want to think hellp cause liver enzymes were ok even though platlets were lot. She got a diuretic today and started having good output. Still a 1:1 care. got more blood. I didn't care for her today but had to check up and make sure she was still ok.

Does albumin get diluted with iv fluids?

Simply put yes......but when accompanied by other factors like low u/o and edema, it's probably accurate.......I'm glad the lasix is working but it would work better if the gave some Albumin.......like a push pull effecthttp://www.globalrph.com/albumin_dilution.htmhttp://www.nature.com/ki/journal/v55.../4490622a.htmlhttps://secure.vlsstore.com/Media/Pu..._26_12_940.pdf