Albumin Metabolism in Neoplastic Diseases

Abstract

Rossing, N. Albumin Metabolism in Neoplastic Diseases. Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest. 22, 211-216, 1968.

The albumin metabolism was studied with¹³¹I-labelled albumin in sixteen patients with various neoplastic diseases. The serum albumin concentration was decreased in all subjects. This was due not only to an increased plasma volume and a decreased rate of synthesis, but also to an increased fractional catabolic rate. The increased rate of degradation was found in ten subjects. There was no correlation between the rate of synthesis and the presence or absence of liver metastases. Eight of the patients had an increased proportion of the total exchangeable albumin mass located extravascularly.

Key Words:

• Albumin metabolism
• cancer
• hypoalbuminaemia
• iodine isotopes
• liver
• plasma volume