ALB and malnutrition: Of course, some confounding aspects have to be discussed: It is well known that even though regarded as tests for liver synthesis function in clinical practice, neither of the tests is specific for liver disease: Albumin serum levels are also reduced in patients with malnutrition or malabsorption, protein-losing enteropathy, or nephrotic syndrome, and prothrombin time is increased with cumarin treatment or vitamin K deficiency.