Hypoalbuminemia is when the serum concentration of the protein albumin is low. It can be due to multiple reasons. However, the most common reason is due to the fusion of the foot processes in the kidneys. This causes the proteins to fall through the kidney into the urine.
The loss of enormous amounts of proteins in the urine causes the concentration of the protein in the serum to decrease; slowly the effects of hypoalbuminemia come into place. If untreated, the patient may have pleural edema and die due to lack of oxygen. However, if adequate albumin is replenished, such a problem can be avoided.
