title: A changed view of serum prealbumin in the elderly: prealbumin values influenced by concomitant inflammation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We are currently witnessing changes in views on the evaluation of serum proteins. A decrease may signal not only malnutrition. It may also be an indicator of simultaneously occurring inflammatory disease. Prealbumin, due to its short half-life, is a suitable indicator of changes in protein-energy balance, but its levels show, as with other serum proteins, a decrease in the case of inflammation too. The present study aimed to determine the prealbumin values of hospitalized geriatric patients and how they are affected by inflammatory disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 101 patients aged over 80 years, the relationships were compared between prealbumin and C-reactive protein in the whole group and then in the subgroups with normal and increased C-reactive protein.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 67.33 % of hospitalized geriatric patients prealbumin was below the limit of the norm. A statistically highly significant dependence (p < 0.001) was demonstrated between a decrease in prealbumin and an increase in C-reactive protein in the whole group. In the subgroup with normal C-reactive protein, no statistically significant decrease in prealbumin was demonstrated, whereas in the subgroup with increased C-reactive protein a significant decrease in prealbumin (p < 0.001 for the whole group, p < 0.01 men, p < 0.05 women) was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrated subnormal mean initial values of prealbumin and a highly statistically significant negative correlation between a decrease in prealbumin and an increase in C-reactive protein in the whole group. We confirm that in inflammation there is a statistically significant decrease in serum concentration of prealbumin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gerontology and Metabolic Care, Faculty Hospital, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. danahrnciarikova@seznam.cz
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hrnciarikova
authors.forename: Bozena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Juraskova
authors.forename: Radomir
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hyspler
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Solichova
authors.forename: Alena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ticha
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klemera
authors.forename: Miloslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hronek
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zadak
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011228:Prealbumin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein