Prealbumin estimations were obtained to determine nutritional states in a group of patients supported with total parenteral nutrition and exogenous albumin infusions. Patients who were in positive nitrogen balance demonstrated an increase in prealbumin levels (11.0 ± 1.6 milligram percent versus 20.3 ± 3.3 milligram percent), whereas patients who were in negative nitrogen balance demonstrated a decrease in prealbumin levels (13.1 ± 5.3 milligram percent versus 9.8 ± 2.2 milligram percent).
Prealbumin can be utilized as a test to reflect visceral protein states in patients receiving exogenous albumin infusions.
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