Hypoproteinaemia Health Dictionary

A fall in the amount of PROTEIN in the blood. This may be caused by malnutrition, loss of protein from kidney disorders, or faulty production of protein which occurs in some liver disorders. Hypoproteinaemia causes OEDEMA because ?uid accumulates in the tissues as a consequence of the metabolic abnormalities. Patients’ resistance to infections is also impaired.

n. a decrease in the quantity of protein in the blood. It may result from malnutrition, impaired protein production (as in liver disease), or increased loss of protein from the body (as in the *nephrotic syndrome). It results in swelling (*oedema), because of the accumulation of fluid in the tissues, and increased susceptibility to infections. See also hypogammaglobulinaemia.