Wallach's Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests: Pathways to Arriving at a Clinical Diagnosis (667 page)

   Use

   Assess nutritional status

   Evaluate chronic illness

   Evaluate liver disease

   Interpretation

Increased In

   Dehydration

   High-protein diet

Decreased In

   Decreased synthesis by the liver:

   Acute and chronic liver disease (e.g., alcoholism, cirrhosis, hepatitis)

   Malabsorption and malnutrition

   Fasting, protein–calorie malnutrition

   Amyloidosis

   Chronic illness

   DM