Laboratory cachexia refers a pattern of laboratory test findings associated with advanced cancer.
Patient selection: advanced cancer
Criteria for laboratory cachexia:
(1) serum CRP > 10 mg/L (in the absence of active infection)
(2) serum albumin < 30 g/L
This roughly corresponds to a modified Glagow Prognostic Score of 2 (the mGPS uses < 35 g/L).
According to Gray, the prevalence of laboratory cachexia increases markedly in the 30 days prior to death.
