2.4. Laboratory Evaluation
malnutrition
MALNUTRITION
A blood sample was obtained just before the PEG procedure. Serum albumin, transferrin, total cholesterol, and electrolytes, namely phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium, were measured at baseline (T0) and during follow-up (T1) as part of patient global nutritional and metabolic evaluation. Values of albumin below 3.5 g/dL, transferrin below 200 mg/dL, and total cholesterol below 160 mg/dL were considered low values, suggestive of malnutrition and/or poor prognosis. Normal cut-off values for serum electrolytes were considered, according to the laboratory institutional protocol, namely: phosphorus: 2.5–4.8 mg/dL, magnesium: 1.5–2.1 mg/dL, and potassium: 3.5–5.0 mmol/L. Patients with low levels of these serum electrolytes did not start enteral nutrition refeeding until replacement and complete normalization.