ALB and Hypoalbuminemia: The serum half-life of albumin is relatively long (20 days) and serum albumin concentrations change in response to catabolism and nutritional supplementation that take place in the late-stage course of acute diseases.50 Hypoalbuminemia has been described as an independent factor for mortality among elderly patients and patients with chronic renal failure undergoing dialysis.51,52 However, there is little evidence for an association between decreased serum levels of albumin and mortality in ARF cases.