Plasma colloid osmotic pressure, which is the adsorption of water produced by the proteins in the plasma, with the level of plasma albumin being the most important factor affecting plasma colloid osmotic pressure. The most common cause of reduced plasma colloid osmotic pressure is a decrease in serum albumin concentration. After the albumin concentration decreases, the plasma colloid osmotic pressure decreases, and the patient may experience edema and plasma membrane cavity effusion. Decreased plasma colloid osmotic pressure is commonly associated with reduced albumin, which is most commonly seen in patients with chronic liver disease. Because albumin is produced by the liver, patients with chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis, are susceptible to a decrease in plasma colloid osmotic pressure because of the decreased ability of the liver to produce albumin. In addition, if too much albumin is lost from the kidneys, this can also cause a decrease in plasma colloid osmotic pressure. The most common type of disease is nephrotic syndrome, in which small molecules of albumin are leaked out of the body from the kidneys due to kidney damage, eventually causing a decrease in albumin concentration and thus a decrease in plasma colloid osmotic pressure.