Question

A patient has advanced liver disease. Blood tests reveal that his serum albumin (albumin is one of

the protein molecules found in the blood) level is very low. What eventually happens in this patient situation?

a. Water would shift from blood (B) to tissue (T) because of decreased plasma oncotic pressure.
b. There would be an increased intravascular volume due to increased plasma oncotic pressure.
c. There would be dehydrated brain cells due to fluid shifting from T to B.
d. Water would shift from T to B because of increased osmolality of the vascular space.

Answer 1

In a patient with advanced liver disease and low serum albumin levels, water would shift from the tissue to the blood due to decreased plasma oncotic pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a patient with advanced liver disease and very low serum albumin levels, water would shift from the tissue (T) to the blood (B) because of decreased plasma oncotic pressure. Albumin is a major protein found in the blood and plays a crucial role in regulating water content in the tissues. When the albumin concentration is low, there is decreased plasma oncotic pressure, which leads to the movement of water from the tissue to the blood.