[Albumin--biological functions and clinical significance]

Albumin is a simple protein present both in animal and plant physiological fluids and tissues. It plays many important roles including maintenance of appropriate osmotic pressure, binding and transport of various substances like hormones, drugs etc. in blood, and neutralisation of free radicals. Both acute and chronic disorders lead to hypoalbuminemia, oedema and many other disturbances. Albumin preparations obtained by separation of human plasma are used clinically for more than 50 years to reverse hypoalbuminemia and to allow for reversal of abnormalities in substance transport. These problems are discussed through out this paper.