Stains & CD markers
Albumin
Copyright: 2003-2023, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Albumin[TI] free full text[SB] pathology stain
Albumin
Author: Nat Pernick, M.D.
Last author update: 1 November 2013
Last staff update: 23 June 2021
Copyright: 2003-2023, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Albumin[TI] free full text[SB] pathology stain
Cite this page: Pernick N. Albumin. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/stainsalbumin.html. Accessed November 29th, 2023.
Definition / general
- Most common serum protein
- 65K protein produced by ALB gene on #4, by liver (Wikipedia)
- 50% of total plasma protein content; usual serum concentration of 40 g/L
- Binds to water, bilirubin, calcium, fatty acids, hormones (acts as carrier protein), potassium, sodium, and various drugs
- Main function of serum albumin is to regulate blood colloidal osmotic pressure
- Bovine serum albumin (BSA): plasma protein from cows that maintains osmotic pressure in blood plasma for proper distribution of body fluids between intravascular compartments and body tissues
- Rarely used as IHC marker for liver
Clinical features
- Laboratory:
- For serum albumin measure, most instrument systems do NOT have satisfactory total-error performance (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2013;137:912)
- Serum albumin may be a low cost diagnostic marker for tuberculosis in HIV+ patients eligible for antiretroviral therapy (Bioimpacts 2013;3:123)
- In type 2 diabetes patients with stable angina and chronic total coronary occlusion, increased serum glycated albumin levels are associated with impaired coronary collateral growth (Cardiovasc Diabetol 2013;12:165)
- Deficiency causes familial dysalbuminemic hyperthyroxinemia (MIM:103600)
- Surgical pathology
- Useful to differentiate cholangiocarcinoma (positive) from metastatic adenocarcinoma (usually negative, Ann Surg Oncol 2016;23:290, Am J Clin Pathol 2019;152:190, Am J Surg Pathol 2002;26:989) as well as intrahepatic from extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Left: normal liver; right: negative control
Liver and hepatocellular carcinoma
