Hypoproteinemia

Hypoproteinemia refers to a reduced concentration of total protein in the blood plasma (<60 g / L). With a serum protein can be determined which classes of proteins are affected.

Hypoproteinemia can be triggered by a large number of diseases and functional disorders, in which either too little protein is taken up ( malnutrition , malabsorption ) or produced ( cirrhosis of the liver ), or too much protein is taken up via the kidneys ( nephrotic syndrome ), the intestines (chronic enteritis , reduced blood flow intestinal tract), or the skin ( burn ) may be lost. A consuming disease with increased energy expenditure such as cancer or sepsis can also lower the protein concentration in the blood. Some genetic defects disrupt protein synthesis. Idiopathic (= occurring without a known cause) hypoproteinemia is also possible.

Symptoms

The reduced concentration of substances in the blood causes osmosis of the water from the vascular system into the tissue, with the result of edema , ascites , pleural effusion and hypotension . The function of the serum proteins (substance transport, immune defense) is reduced.