Transthyretin (aka Prealbumin): Why Is It Part of TPN Labs?

Abstract

AS IN OTHER NICUs, OUR PATIENTS on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) have routine labs done for monitoring. In our unit, these labs include electrolytes, hemoglobin, triglycerides, liver function studies, and transthyretin (TTR) (still called prealbumin). In polling the other neonatal nurse practitioners, I realized that none of us completely understood the utility of following the TTR level. That was the impetus for this column.