Paracentesis-induced circulatory dysfunction (PICD) is a serious complication of large-volume (>5 L) paracentesis in cirrhosis and is reduced with albumin infusion.
Mean arterial pressure (MAP), platelet count, and serum albumin were significantly lower and total leucocyte count (TLC), blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine (SCr), total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, international normalized ratio, Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score higher in cirrhosis patients with AKI than without AKI (p < 0.05 each).
Based on the results of our retrospective study and meta-analysis, albumin infusion might prevent from the occurrence of overt HE and improve the severity of overt HE in cirrhosis.
Albumin infusion reduces the incidence of postparacentesis circulatory dysfunction among patients with cirrhosis and tense ascites compared with no treatment.
To assess the benefits and harms of any plasma volume expanders such as albumin, other colloids (polygeline, dextrans, hydroxyethyl starch solutions, fresh frozen plasma), intravenous infusion of ascitic fluid, crystalloids, or mannitol versus no plasma volume expander or versus another plasma volume expander for paracentesis in people with cirrhosis and large ascites.
Although the results of these studies may appear conflicting, their analyses suggest that albumin, if given in a sufficient amount and for a sufficient duration, can significantly reduce the incidence of life-threatening complications of cirrhosis and patient mortality.
Albumin is an important tool in the management of patients with cirrhosis, since it decreases for less than half the risk for post-paracentesis cardiocirculatory dysfunction and mortality associated with spontaneous bacterial infection, as well as, it triplicates the response to terlipressin in patients with hepatorenal syndrome.
At SVR24, higher baseline ARFI values (P=0.038) were associated with a decrease in LSM in patients with cirrhosis versus normal international normalization ratio (P=0.003), lower bilirubin (P=0.003), and higher albumin (P=0.007) in patients without cirrhosis.
Based on this evidence, it is proposed that the administration of albumin in conjunction with PUFAs and their anti-inflammatory products could be beneficial for the prevention of and recovery from NAFLD, hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver.
Nevertheless, the beneficial effects of albumin resuscitation have been demonstrated in patients with cirrhosis and may reflect more than mere volume expansion.
Age, female sex, positive results for hepatitis C virus, low serum albumin concentration, and cirrhosis were independent factors related to the severity of muscle cramps.
Interestingly, in addition to strategies based on new therapeutic agents, these targets can be tackled by employing drugs that are already used in patients with cirrhosis for different indications or in other clinical settings, including non-absorbable oral antibiotics, non-selective β-blockers, human albumin and statins.
Although the inducers of this feature remain unknown, the presence of circulating forms of oxidized albumin, namely human nonmercaptalbumin 1 (HNA1) and HNA2, is a common finding in cirrhosis.
In univariate analysis, undetectable VL at 4 weeks (p=0.042), absence of cirrhosis (p=0.021), baseline albumin ≥ 4g/dl (p=0.001) and MELD<10 (p<0.0001) were associated with higher SVR12.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether treatment with midodrine, an alpha-adrenergic vasoconstrictor, together with intravenous albumin improves circulatory dysfunction and prevents complications of cirrhosis in patients awaiting LT.
Hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and hyponatremia who received intravenous albumin had a higher rate of hyponatremia resolution independent of renal function and baseline sodium levels, which was in turn associated with a better 30-day survival.