European journal of internal medicine
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Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Endothelial dysfunction, inflammation and oxidative stress are at the forefront in the onset and development of atherosclerosis and many cardiovascular diseases. ⋯ Given physiological properties of serum albumin that include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticoagulant and antiplatelet aggregation activity as well as colloid osmotic effect, hypoalbuminemia could act as an unrecognized modifiable risk factor. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the physiological properties of serum albumin, as well as prevalence, causes, prognostic value and potential contribution to the disease emergence and progression of hypoalbuminemia, and the resulting clinical implications.