Dictionary:

albumin

  (ăl-byū'mĭn)

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A class of simple, water-soluble proteins that can be coagulated by heat and are found in egg white, blood serum, milk, and many other animal and plant tissues. Also called albumen.

[ALBUM(EN) + –IN.]

A type of globular protein that is characterized by its solubility in water and in 50% saturated aqueous ammonium sulfate. Albumins are present in mammalian tissues, bacteria, molds, and plants, and in some foods. Serum albumin, which contains 584 amino acid residues, is the most abundant protein in human serum, and it performs two very important physiological functions. It is responsible for about 80% of the total osmotic regulation in blood, and it transports fatty acids from adipose tissue to muscle. When excessive amounts of albumin are found in the urine upon clinical examination, some form of kidney disease is usually indicated. Another important albumin, ovalbumin, is found in egg white. This protein is about two-thirds the size of serum albumin, and it contains sugar residues in addition to amino acid residues (that is, it is a glycoprotein). See also Protein.

A group of relatively small proteins which are soluble in water and readily coagulated by heat. Ovalbumin is the main protein of egg-white, lactalbumin occurs in milk, and plasma or serum albumin is one of the major blood proteins. Serum albumin concentration is sometimes measured as an index of protein-energy malnutrition.

Often used as a non-specific term for proteins (e.g. albuminuria is the excretion of proteins in the urine).

[al-BYOO-mehn] The protein portion of the egg white, comprising about 70 percent of the whole. Albumin is also found in animal blood, milk, plants and seeds.

The primary protein of plasma (4.5% g) that aids in maintaining capillary osmotic pressure.

Brand names: Albumarc®, Albuminar®, Albutein®, Buminate®, Flexbumin , Human Albumin Grifols®, Plasbumin® 20, Plasbumin® 25, Plasbumin® 5

Español:
• Inyección de albúmina

Albumin injection

What is albumin injection?

ALBUMIN (Albuminar®) treats or prevents shock, following serious injury, bleeding, surgery, or burns, by increasing the volume of blood plasma. Albumin can also replace low blood protein. Generic albumin injections are available.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of the following conditions:
• anemia
• heart or kidney disease
• high blood pressure
• high level of sodium in the blood
• severe burns
• an unusual or allergic reaction to albumin, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Albumin is for infusion into a vein. It is given by a health-care professional in a hospital or clinic.

What if I miss a dose?

What drug(s) may interact with albumin?

There have been no interactions recorded between albumin and other medicines.

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking albumin?

Your condition will be closely monitored while you receive albumin.

What side effects may I notice from receiving albumin?

Side effects from albumin are rare; they include:
• changes in heartbeat
• fever, chills
• increased salivation
• joint pains
• nausea, vomiting
• pain at the injection site
• skin rash, itching (hives)
• stuffy nose
• tightness in the chest, wheezing
• unusual swelling

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F); do not freeze bottles. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Last updated: 7/1/2002

Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.

For more information on albumin, visit Britannica.com.

1. any protein that is soluble in water and moderately concentrated salt solutions and is coagulable by heat.
2. serum albumin; a plasma protein, formed principally in the liver and constituting about four-sevenths of the 6 to 8% protein concentration in the plasma. Albumin is responsible for much of the colloidal osmotic pressure of the blood, and thus is a very important factor in regulating the exchange of water between the plasma and the interstitial compartment (space between the cells).
The presence of albumin in the urine (see albuminuria) indicates malfunction of the kidney, and may accompany kidney disease or heart failure.
A decrease in the serum albumin level may occur with severe disease of the kidney. Other conditions such as liver disease, malnutrition and extensive burns may result in serious decrease of plasma proteins.

• aggregated a. — heat-denatured human albumin, which is labeled with radioisotopes for pulmonary perfusion scanning. Called also macroaggregated albumin. See also technetium.
• ⁵¹Cr-labeled a. excretion — a method of determining gastrointestinal protein loss. After intravenous administration of ⁵¹Cr-labeled albumin, radioactivity in the feces is measured.
• a.–globulin (A/G) ratio — the ratio of albumin to globulin in blood serum, plasma or urine.
• iodinated ¹²⁵I a. — a radiopharmaceutical used in plasma volume determinations, consisting of albumin human labeled with iodine-125.
• iodinated ¹³¹I a. — a radiopharmaceutical used in blood pool imaging and plasma volume determinations, consisting of albumin human labeled with iodine-131.
• macroaggregated a. (MAA) — aggregated albumin.
• serum a. — albumin of the blood.

Tutor's tip: The "albumen" (egg white) contains "albumin" (a plant and animal protein).

Dansk (Danish)
n. - æggehvidestof

Nederlands (Dutch)
albumine (soort eiwit)

Français (French)
n. - (Méd) albumine, (Bot) albumen, blanc de l'¯uf

Deutsch (German)
n. - (chem.) Albumin

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (βιολ.) λευκωματίνη

Italiano (Italian)
albumina

Português (Portuguese)
n. - albumina (f) (Bioquím.)

Русский (Russian)
альбумин

Español (Spanish)
n. - albúmina

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - äggviteämne

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
蛋白, 白朊

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 蛋白, 白朊

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 알부민(단백질의 일종)

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - アルブミン

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) زلال ألبيضه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮חלבון מסיס במים, אלבומין‬

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