Case report: hypoalbuminaemia in THE

Albumin is a plasma protein that constitutes 50% of the protein in the plasma and is a key factor in preventing extravasation of fluid in the extracellular space by the maintenance of oncotic pressure. A reduction in albumin will cause accumulation of fluid over the body due to the decrease of oncotic pressure, pooling fluid into the extravascular space resulting in symptoms of generalised oedema and facial puffiness. Let’s consider the case of a 3-year-old boy with tricohepatoenteric syndrome, a rare genetic disorder with a median age of 3.7 that is characterised by chronic diarrhoea, patchy hair, triangular shape of the face, failure to thrive and liver disease and from that, bring forth a discussion forth regarding the implications of hypoalbuminaemia in the frail paediatric population.