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Hypoalbuminemia & UC

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Posted 1/28/2011 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
That's a mouthfull..

Anyway, wondering if anyone else has a symptom that I have, my nail beds, 9 out of 10 have a white line across the middle of the nail. I found it unusual enopugh given how many nails were afffected to start googling this, I found Hypoalbuminemia, which is low albumin, one common cause UC.

Ok, so I know I have UC, do I need to have my albumin levels checked? I don't think I've seen this addressed anywhere...

Anyone else have the white lines or spots in their nails?

Posted 1/28/2011 4:40 AM (GMT 0)
Googling more..I think I found my answer, but am still curious if anyone else had the lines..

Low blood albumin levels cannot be corrected by simply prescribing an albumin supplement to raise blood levels of the protein. In fact, some studies indicate that it might even be harmful to administer albumin as part of treatment. The optimum treatment for people with hypoalbuminemia is dependent on the cause of the condition. Low blood albumin levels are treated by managing the cause. Therefore, a patient being treated for this condition might consult with a surgeon, nephrologist, cardiologist or another type of doctor, depending on the cause.
Posted 1/28/2011 8:50 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know about the white line on his fingernails but my Dad with UC has low albumin.
Posted 1/28/2011 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
I only have one nail with a faint white line across the middle of my nail but the majority of my nails have deep vertical ridges.

So that condition is caused by low protein intake?
Posted 1/28/2011 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
I have 5 nails with white lines. I've never heard of this. Will have to research. I too have deep vertical ridges.
Posted 1/28/2011 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
I got a flat ridged area that had white streaks on the center of both thumb nails during 2009 flare. That has gone away except a little bit on one nail. I had weird liver function tests at the time.

I had low globulin in 2 of the blood tests I had in the last year including my last. I am going to ask the doctor more about it next week. I guess it is common in IBD. Maybe low albumin is similar. I know that albumin/globulin is effected by immune function or malnutrition

A CMP blood test is cheap and measure both plus a bunch of related liver and kidney functions. I would ask for this test yearly as the really bad (but rare) precautions for mesalimine drugs are covered by it.
Posted 1/28/2011 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Joker, how did they treat your father?
Posted 1/28/2011 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
after chris' surgery his albumin was found to be low. they said likely because he was malnourished due to the UC. they also said that low albumin level can be a precursor of cancer. they treated him with two 4hour doses 12 hours apart. it was sort of like an IV but there was a special little machine doing all the work. my husband and i both agreed that he grew an inch that day and he felt tons better afterwards. i never noticed any problem with his nails though.
Posted 1/28/2011 7:26 PM (GMT 0)

They really haven't treated him for it yet apart from trying to get him to eat more protien. They say it's likely from his not eating very much due to his lack of appetite coupled with his colon's inability to absorb nutrients. I am giving him a protien drink everyday with 15 grams of protein.

I had a dog that had autoimmune disease and she had low albumin and the vet had me feed her a lot of eggs.

Meemers said...
Joker, how did they treat your father?

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