This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Merritt, R. J. Articles by Siegel, S. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Merritt, R. J. Articles by Siegel, S. S. Pubmed/NCBI databases Substance via MeSH Medline Plus Health Information Cancer Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Significance of Hypoalbuminemia in Pediatric Oncology Patients— Malnutrition or Infection?

Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and The School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

Maryse Kalsch, B.S., R.D.

Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and The School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

Lorraine Davis Roux, B.S.

Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and The School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

Judith Ashley-Mills, M.P.H., R.D.

Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and The School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

Stuart S. Siegel, M.D.

Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and The School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

Nutritional status was evaluated on 210 occasions in 90 pediatric oncology inpatients during a 7-month period; 39 had solid tumors and 51 leukemia. Ages ranged from 3 months to 20 yr. Nutritional parameters were defined as normal, "at risk," or "probably malnourished." Fifty-seven and 29% of assessments revealed at least one parameter "at risk" or "probably malnourished," respectively. Prognosis was negatively related to the number of abnormal nutritional parameters. Serum albumin was most frequently abnormal. However, on most occasions, hypoalbuminemia was associated with weight/height, arm muscle area, and triceps skinfold measurements in the normal range. In order to further identify determinants of serum albumin, we analyzed dietary, chemotherapy, and temperature data in 10 prospectively studied leukemia patients, half of whom received parenteral nutrition. In these patients there was little relationship of serum albumin to chemotherapy or dietary intake. In all of these patients, especially those receiving total parenteral nutrition, low serum albumin was highly associated with fever (p < 0.0005). We concluded that febrile illness is an important determinant of abnormal serum albumin concentrations. In pediatric cancer patients, abnormal serum albumin may more often reflect the acute metabolic response to fever and infection than depletion of body mass. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 9:303-306, 1985)

Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, Vol. 9, No. 3, 303-306 (1985)
DOI: 10.1177/0148607185009003303


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Nething, K. Ringwald-Smith, R. Williams, M. L. Hancock, and G. A. Hale Establishing the Use of Body Mass Index as an Indicator of Nutrition Risk in Children With Cancer JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, January 1, 2007; 31(1): 53 - 57. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. den Broeder, R. J. J. Lippens, M. A. van 't Hof, J. J. M. Tolboom, R. C. A. Sengers, A. M. J. van den Berg, N. B. M. van Houdt, Z. Hofman, and W. A. van Staveren Nasogastric Tube Feeding in Children with Cancer: The Effect of Two Different Formulas on Weight, Body Composition, and Serum Protein Concentrations JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, November 1, 2000; 24(6): 351 - 360. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B M D Brennan, M Gill, L Pennells, O B Eden, A G Thomas, and P E Clayton Insulin-like growth factor I, IGF binding protein 3, and IGFBP protease activity: relation to anthropometric indices in solid tumours or leukaemia Arch. Dis. Child., March 1, 1999; 80(3): 226 - 230. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. L. Koretz Intravenous Albumin and Nutrition Support: Going for the Quick Fix JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, March 1, 1995; 19(2): 166 - 171. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. J. Hanigan and G. A. Walter Nutritional Support of the Child With Cancer Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, January 1, 1992; 9(3): 110 - 118. [Abstract] [PDF]