Albumin Production and Its Decline in Chronic Liver Disease

Source of Albumin

• Albumin is synthesized exclusively by hepatocytes in the liver, whereas globulins are generated by plasma cells and B‑lymphocytes throughout the reticuloendothelial system. [1][2]

Relationship Between Hepatic Synthetic Capacity and Serum Albumin

• Serum albumin concentrations decrease proportionally when hepatic synthetic function falls to approximately 30 % of normal (i.e., >70 % loss of functional liver tissue). This decline reflects the loss of hepatocyte mass rather than alterations in globulin production. 1