Serum proteins as indicators of poor dietary intake in patients with chronic renal failure.

A study of serum proteins in patients on regular hemodialysis has shown that many have low serum transferrin levels but near normal serum albumin and normal or raised pre-albumin levels. Hemoglobin values were related to transferrin levels. Low transferrin levels also occurred in patients with advanced osteitis fibrosa. Deficient protein intake seems the likely explanation. Measurement of pre-albumin does not reflect low protein intake in chronic renal failure; reasons for this discussed.