Final answer:
In nephrotic syndrome, serum albumin levels typically decrease due to the glomerular damage that allows proteins to leak into the urine. This condition also often presents with swelling and high cholesterol levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
In nephrotic syndrome, we typically see a decrease in serum albumin levels.
This condition is characterized by damage to the glomeruli, which are the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys that filter waste and excess substances from the blood.
Due to this damage, a large amount of protein that normally remains in the bloodstream passes into the urine, leading to low serum albumin levels. In addition to low albumin, other frequent features of nephrotic syndrome include swelling, also known as edema, and high cholesterol levels.