albumin (redirected from Albumin (disambiguation))

albumin /al·bu·min/ (al-bu´min)

1. any protein that is soluble in water and also in moderately concentrated salt solutions.

2. the major plasma protein, responsible for much of the plasma colloidal osmotic pressure and serving as a transport protein for large organic anions (e.g., fatty acids, bilirubin, some drugs) and for some hormones when their specific binding globulins are saturated.albu´minous

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egg albumin  albumin of egg whites.

albumin human  a preparation of human serum albumin, used as a plasma volume expander and to increase bilirubin binding in hyperbilirubinemia.

iodinated I 125 albumin  a radiopharmaceutical used in blood and plasma volume, circulation time, and cardiac output determinations, consisting of albumin human labeled with iodine-125.

iodinated I 131 albumin  a radiopharmaceutical used in blood pool imaging and plasma volume determinations, consisting of albumin human labeled with iodine-131.

serum albumin  albumin (2).

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al·bu·min (l-bymn)

n.

A class of simple, water-soluble proteins that can be coagulated by heat and precipitated by strong acids and are found in egg white, blood serum, milk, and many other animal and plant juices and tissues.

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Albumin

A protein that is important in maintaining blood volume. Low albumin levels is one sign of Alport syndrome.

Mentioned in: Alport Syndrome, Protein Electrophoresis

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albumin

[albyo̅o̅′min]

Etymology: L, albus, white

a water-soluble, heat-coagulable protein; the most abundant protein in blood plasma. Various albumins are found in practically all animal tissues and in many plant tissues. Determination of the levels and kinds of albumin in urine, blood, and other body tissues is the basis of a number of laboratory diagnostic tests.

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albumin (human),

a plasma-volume expander.

indications It is prescribed in the treatment of hypoproteinemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and hypovolemic shock.

contraindications Severe anemia, heart failure, and allergic reaction to albumin prohibit its use.

adverse effects Among the most serious adverse reactions are chills, hypertension, fever, and urticaria.

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albumin/creatinine ratio,

the ratio of albumin to creatinine in the urine, calculated as a measure of albuminuria.

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albumin [al-bu´min]

1. any protein that is soluble in water and moderately concentrated salt solutions and is coagulable by heat.

2. serum albumin; the most abundant plasma protein, formed principally in the liver and constituting up to two thirds of the 6 to 8 per cent protein concentration in the plasma. (See accompanying table.) Albumin is responsible for much of the colloidal osmotic pressure of the blood, and thus is a very important factor in regulating the exchange of water between the plasma and the interstitial compartment (space between the cells). Because of hydrostatic pressure, water is forced through the walls of the capillaries into the tissue spaces. This flow of water continues until the osmotic pull of protein (albumin) molecules causes it to stop. A drop in the amount of albumin in the plasma leads to an increase in the flow of water from the capillaries into the interstitial compartment. This results in an increase in tissue fluid which, if severe, becomes apparent as edema. Albumin serves also as a transport protein carrying large organic anions, such as fatty acids, bilirubin, and many drugs, and also hormones, such as cortisol and thyroxine, when their specific binding globulins are saturated.

The presence of albumin in the urine (albuminuria) indicates malfunction of the kidney, and may accompany kidney disease or heart failure. A person with severe renal disease may lose as much as 20 to 30 g of plasma proteins in the urine in one day.

A decrease in the serum albumin level may occur with severe disease of the kidney. Other conditions such as liver disease, malnutrition, and extensive burns may result in serious decrease of plasma proteins.

albumin-globulin ratio the ratio of albumin to globulin in blood serum, plasma, or urine.

albumin human a preparation of human serum albumin, used as an artificial plasma extender and to increase bilirubin binding in hyperbilirubinemia.

iodinated I 125 albumin a radiopharmaceutical used in blood and plasma volume, circulation time, and cardiac output determinations, consisting of albumin human labeled with iodine-125.

iodinated I 131 albumin a radiopharmaceutical used in blood pool imaging and plasma volume determinations, consisting of albumin human labeled with iodine-131.

normal human serum albumin albumin human.

serum albumin albumin of the blood.

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albumin (albyōō´min),

n the primary protein of plasma (4.5% g) that aids in maintaining capillary osmotic pressure.

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albumin

1. any protein that is soluble in water and moderately concentrated salt solutions and is coagulable by heat.

2. serum albumin; a plasma protein, formed principally in the liver and constituting about four-sevenths of the 6 to 8% protein concentration in the plasma. Albumin is responsible for much of the colloidal osmotic pressure of the blood, and thus is a very important factor in regulating the exchange of water between the plasma and the interstitial compartment (space between the cells).

The presence of albumin in the urine (see albuminuria) indicates malfunction of the kidney, and may accompany kidney disease or heart failure.

A decrease in the serum albumin level may occur with severe disease of the kidney. Other conditions such as liver disease, malnutrition and extensive burns may result in serious decrease of plasma proteins.

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aggregated albumin

heat-denatured human albumin, which is labeled with radioisotopes for pulmonary perfusion scanning. Called also macroaggregated albumin. See also technetium.

⁵¹Cr-labeled albumin excretion

a method of determining gastrointestinal protein loss. After intravenous administration of ⁵¹Cr-labeled albumin, radioactivity in the feces is measured.

albumin-globulin (A/G) ratio

the ratio of albumin to globulin in blood serum, plasma or urine.

iodinated ¹²⁵I albumin

a radiopharmaceutical used in plasma volume determinations, consisting of albumin human labeled with iodine-125.

iodinated ¹³¹I albumin

a radiopharmaceutical used in blood pool imaging and plasma volume determinations, consisting of albumin human labeled with iodine-131.

macroaggregated albumin (MAA)

aggregated albumin.

serum albumin

albumin of the blood.

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albumin

Clinical chemistry A 66 kD heat-coagulable, acid-precipitable, water-soluble protein produced by the liver, which acts as an osmotic regulator, stabilizer, a nutritive substrate for tissues, binding and transport protein and, experimentally, a growth media supplement; albumin is the major–± 60% total–plasma protein; 40% of albumin in adults–± 125 g is intravascular; it is responsible for 75-80% of intravascular oncotic pressure; daily turnover is 10-16%; it is a major transport protein for large organic anions–eg, fatty acids, BR, drugs, enzymes, and hormones–eg, cortisol and thyroxine, when their specific binding globulins are saturated; serum albumin levels serve as a surrogate marker for liver disease; albumin is ↑ in dehydration and ↓ in liver disease, protein malnutrition, chronic disease, neoplasia, thyroid disease, burns, active inflammation, renal disease See Glycosylated albumin, Prealbumin, Proalbumin, Sonicated albumin, Timed collection Therapeutics Albumin is available as plasma protein fraction-50g/L; it carries no risk of hepatitis Indications Acute blood loss, burns, hypo– or analbuminemia Contraindications Malnutrition. See Colloids, Crystalloids. Cf Albumen, Ovalbumin Ref range Serum ♂.;, 4.2-5.5 g/dL; ♀ 3.7-5.3 g/dL; urine, 3.9-24.4 mg/24 hrs; CSF, 15-45 mg/dL Transfusion medicine A colloid-type volume expander consisting of albumin in 2 standard concentrations–5% and 25% in a physiologic solution; albumin is prepared by heating to 60ºC for 10+ hrs, which inactivates both HBV and HIV, and is used in surgical blood management by hemodilution. See Hemodilution, Surgical blood management.