Hypoproteinemia

The severity of symptoms can vary, but may include: • Fatigue and weakness • Recurrent infections • Brittle nails and dry skin • Thinning and breaking hair • Mood changes and irritability • Curling ulcers ==Causes==

• Nutritional hypoproteinemia is due to severe limitation of protein intake in the diet. An example of nutritional hypoproteinemia is Kwashiorkor, a type of protein energy malnutrition affecting young children. • Malabsorption, often caused by celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease • Liver disease can also cause hypoproteinemia by decreasing synthesis of plasma proteins like albumin. • Renal disease like nephrotic syndrome can also result in hypoproteinemia because plasma proteins are lost in the urine. • Sepsis (whole body infection) – macrophages activated in the liver and spleen secrete TNF-alpha into the bloodstream resulting in hypoproteinemia. ==Diagnosis==

Hypoproteinemia is often confirmed by testing for serum albumin and total protein levels. ==References==