Increased breakdown of albumin is seen in which condition?

• A. Burns
• B. Cirrhosis
• C. Nephrotic syndrome
• D. Acute pancreatitis

Answer: (A)

In severe injury such as burns, the body enters a hypermetabolic, highly catabolic state. This accelerates protein breakdown, including albumin, so its rate of degradation increases. At the same time, burn injuries cause capillary leak and exudation of protein-rich fluid from the intravascular space, and inflammatory mediators suppress albumin synthesis by the liver. The combination of increased breakdown and loss with reduced production leads to a drop in albumin levels.

In contrast, cirrhosis mainly reduces albumin synthesis due to impaired liver function, nephrotic syndrome causes heavy urinary loss of albumin, and acute pancreatitis triggers inflammation but does not uniquely drive albumin breakdown. Therefore, the condition that best explains increased albumin breakdown is severe burns.