A 7-Year-Old Boy Is Brought to the Office by His

A 7-year-old boy is brought to the office by his mother due to facial puffiness that is especially noticeable in the morning.  He has a history of mild, intermittent asthma that is well controlled with albuterol as needed.  Temperature is 36.1 C (97 F) , blood pressure is 98/62 mm Hg, and pulse is 89/min and regular.  Physical examination shows bilateral lower extremity pitting edema.  Nephrotic-range proteinuria consisting mainly of albumin is revealed on urinalysis.  Which of the following mechanisms is the most likely cause of this patient's abnormal laboratory findings?

A) Impaired tubular reabsorption of filtered proteins
B) Increased filtration of plasma proteins
C) Inflammation of the urinary tract
D) Necrosis of skeletal muscle fibers
E) Overproduction of low-molecular-weight proteins

Correct Answer:

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