Hypoproteinemia is a condition where protein levels in the blood are abnormally low, often caused by kidney failure, malnutrition, or protein-losing enteropathies. Treatment options include dietary changes, medication, or surgery, and follow-up tests are necessary to monitor progress. If left untreated, hypoproteinemia can lead to muscle wasting and other complications.
Hypoproteinemia is an unusually low concentration of protein in the blood, indicative of an underlying medical problem. A number of conditions can cause this disorder, and many are treatable, with positive results more likely when treatment is provided in a timely manner. This condition is diagnosed with a blood test to check serum protein levels, and it is possible for a patient to have a specific form, such as hypoalbuminemia, in which levels of a particular protein, in this case albumin, they are lower than they should be.
Routine blood work sometimes identifies slightly lower than normal protein levels, and a doctor may recommend further testing to find out more if there isn’t an obvious cause. In other cases, a doctor may suspect hypoproteinemia and specifically order testing as part of a diagnostic workup, such as in cases where a patient has symptoms of a disease associated with low blood protein. The test will also provide a breakdown of the concentrations of different types of proteins so doctors can see if the proportional values stay the same or if a protein is unusually low or high.
A common cause of hypoproteinemia is kidney failure, in which damaged kidneys begin to leak protein into the urine, causing proteinuria. Malnutrition may be a cause, with the patient not getting enough protein in the first place. Protein-losing enteropathies, in which the intestines eliminate proteins instead of retaining them, are another potential reason for developing changes in blood proteins. Lymphangiectasia, a widening of a lymph vessel, is an example of protein-losing enteropathy. Severe burns have also been linked to hypoproteinemia.
When this symptom is identified, other information about the patient’s condition will be used to determine the cause and develop a treatment plan. Sometimes, it can be as simple as making dietary changes to meet a patient’s nutritional needs. In other cases, medications may be needed to treat the cause or the patient may need surgery. Follow-up tests can be used to see if protein levels are increasing in response to treatment. If the patient does not improve, further diagnostic tests may be needed to see if the patient has comorbidities that interfere with the treatment regimen.
In the long run, hypoproteinemia can be dangerous. Lack of protein in the blood will lead to muscle wasting and other problems. The untreated underlying condition can also worsen and develop complications. If patients are allowed to become very ill, a cascading series of medical problems can develop and there is a risk of death.
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