title: Serum albumin levels correlate with inflammation rather than nutrition supply in burns patients: a retrospective study.
abstract: The aim of this retrospective study was to examine whether serum albumin levels offer a good marker of nutritional status in patients with burns. Serum albumin levels have been used to evaluate nutritional status in burns patients, even though these levels are affected by various factors and are not specific to malnutrition. To clarify whether provision of nutrition or presence of inflammation affects serum albumin levels, we studied serum albumin levels, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and caloric intake over time in 30 patients with burns. Serum albumin levels did not respond to provision of nutrition, but correlated negatively with CRP levels, suggesting that serum albumin levels are more closely associated with inflammation than nutrition. This study also suggests that hypoalbuminemia is a good indicator of the severity of burns or associated complications. We conclude that serum albumin levels do not offer a good nutritional marker in burns patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Institute of Health Biosciences, the University of Tokushima Graduate School.
authors.forename: Soshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seike
authors.forename: Yoshiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakaya
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002056:Burns / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein