What is the primary clinical use of assessing serum prealbumin levels?

Assessing serum prealbumin levels is primarily used to evaluate a patient's nutritional status. Prealbumin, also known as transthyretin, has a relatively short half-life, making it a more sensitive marker for detecting changes in nutritional intake compared to other proteins, such as albumin, which has a longer half-life. When a patient has compromised nutritional status or is at risk of malnutrition, prealbumin levels typically decrease, reflecting the recent dietary intake and protein status.

This measurement is particularly useful in clinical settings to monitor patients who are undergoing nutritional support or in those at risk of malnutrition, such as the elderly, patients with chronic illnesses, or those recovering from surgery. Because prealbumin responds quickly to changes in nutritional intake, it can be an effective tool for assessing the effectiveness of dietary interventions and the overall nutritional care of a patient.