The laboratory value most likely to be altered in a client experiencing protein energy wasting is serum albumin.

Quick Scoop

Protein energy wasting (PEW) is a state of malnutrition where the body is losing both protein (especially muscle) and energy stores, commonly seen in chronic illnesses such as chronic kidney disease. In this state, visceral proteins decrease, and one of the most sensitive and commonly monitored indicators is serum albumin.

Why serum albumin?

  • It reflects nutritional protein status and is often low in PEW due to inadequate intake, inflammation, and increased catabolism.
  • Low serum albumin is frequently used as part of diagnostic criteria and risk scores for PEW and is strongly associated with poorer outcomes in these patients.
  • Other values like white blood cell count, urine culture, or platelets may change with infection or other conditions, but they are not the primary markers of protein energy wasting.

So, for an exam or clinical reasoning question like this, the expected answer is:

Serum albumin