Hypoalbuminaemia plays a minor role in oedema.
Article Type: Brief article
Subject: Dropsy (Causes of)
Dropsy (Diagnosis)
Dropsy (Research)
Edema (Causes of)
Edema (Diagnosis)
Edema (Research)
Water-electrolyte imbalances (Complications and side effects)
Water-electrolyte imbalances (Research)
Pub Date: 01/01/2009
Publication: Name: South African Medical Journal Publisher: South African Medical Association Audience: Academic Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Health Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2009 South African Medical Association ISSN: 0256-9574
Issue: Date: Jan, 2009 Source Volume: 99 Source Issue: 1
Topic: Event Code: 310 Science & research
Geographic: Geographic Scope: United States Geographic Code: 1USA United States
Accession Number: 204611511
Full Text: Seriously ill patients often suffer from disorders of salt and water balance and present with clinical signs of either dehydration or oedema. The concept that hypoalbuminaemia directly causes oedema due to fluid extravasation is challenged in a study by Steyl and Van Zyl-Smit. (3)

Fifty patients admitted to medical wards were evaluated. Significant hypoalbuminaemia was present in many of their patients, yet oedema was detected infrequently and generally had an easily identifiable cause not related to low albumin levels. Most patients with hypoalbuminaemia presented with normal or positive water balance. The authors conclude that their study supports the notion that hypoalbuminaemia is infrequently associated with oedema and plays a minor role in its formation.
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