Medicine. Water-soluble blood protein. Increased absolute serum albumin content is not seen as a natural condition. Relative increase may occur in hemoconcentration. Absolute increase may occur artificially by infusion of hyperoncotic albumin suspensions. Decreased serum albumin is seen in states of decreased synthesis (malabsorption, malnutrition, liver disease, and other chronic diseases), increased loss (many GI conditions, nephrotic syndrome, thermal burns, etc.), and increased catabolism (cancer chemotherapy, thyrotoxicosis, familial hypoproteinemia, Cushing's disease) Globulin is increased disproportionately to albumin (decreasing the albumin/globulin ratio) in states characterized by chronic inflammation and in B-lymphocyte neoplasms, like myeloma and Waldenstrvm's macroglobulinemia. More relevant information concerning increased globulin may be obtained by serum protein electrophoresis. Decreased globulin may be seen in congenital or acquired hypogammaglobulinemic states. Serum and urine protein electrophoresis may help to better define the clinical problem