Hypoalbuminemia after renal transplantation

Changes of serum albumin levels were studied in 20 patients with end-stage renal disease who had undergone renal transplantation. Serum albumin concentrations steadily decreased from a normal pretransplantal value to its lowest level eight to 29 days after transplantation. This was followed by a gradual increase toward pretransplant values by the fourth and fifth weeks after transplantation. Although the hypoalbuminemia was slightly more severe and its recovery somewhat slower in the group with failing grafts than those with functioning grafts, the differences were not statistically significant. The decrease in serum albumin level after transplantation was accompanied by a parallel reduction in serum globulin concentration. However, in contrast to albumin levels, a subsequent increase in serum globulin concentration was not observed during the five-week study period.