Question

Hypoalbuminemia is a medical condition in which blood plasma levels of albumin are abnormally low. One reason for this disorder is an increased movement of blood plasma albumin into the interstitial space through leaky capillaries. How would this condition affect the volume of lymph that's produced

A. It would decrease lymph volume.
B. It would increase lymph volume.
C. There is not enough information to answer question.
D. There is no effect upon lymph volume.

Answer 1

B. It would increase lymph volume.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concentration of albumin becomes low in hypoalbuminemia because of decreased production (any disease that can affect lever can change the production of albumin), increased loss or unequal distribution of albumin between body compartments. In the given question, the cause of hypoalbuminemia is described as unequal distriubution of albumin in the body compartments such as an increased movement of blood plasma albumin into the interstitial spaces through leaky capillaries

Albumin plays an important role in establishing the oncotic pressure of blood vessels. The oncotic pressure is the type of osmotic pressure and helps to pulls the fluids into blood vessels. So when the albumin in blood vessels decreases alternatively the oncotic pressure decreases and which causes the increases accumulation of fluid in interstitial fluid. As lymph is produced from interstitial fluid so alternatively the concentration of lymph would also increase.

Answer 2

A. It would increase lymph volume.

Step-by-step explanation:

[According to Starling's Law

if the transcapillary oncotic pressure is lesser than the hydrostatic pressure difference, then fluid will leave from the capillary (as it happens at arterial end).

or

if the transcapillary oncotic pressure is greater than the hydrostatic pressure difference, then fluid will return into the capillary (as happens at venous end).

Serum albumin is a very important factor that defines oncotic pressure in capillaries and maintains the level of fluid in the capillaries. Hypoalbuminemia results in decreased oncotic pressure which will facilitate movement of fluids from the capillaries to the interstitial space, hence resulting to a condition known as edema.]