Albumin Does Not Confer Mortality Benefit in Patients with Sepsis

Compared with standard crystalloid therapy, adding albumin did not improve outcomes in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock.

Maintenance of blood pressure for tissue perfusion is a cornerstone of sepsis treatment, and albumin plays a significant role in maintaining plasma oncotic pressure. A prior randomized trial demonstrated a trend toward lower mortality in a subgroup of intensive care unit (ICU) patients with sepsis treated with 4% albumin versus saline (NEJM Journal Watch Cardiol Jul 23 2004). In the current multicenter study, investigators in Italy randomized 1818 ICU patients with severe sepsis to treatment with either crystalloid alone or crystalloid and 20% albumin. Albumin was administered daily to a serum albumin target of 3 g/dL or more.

The albumin group did not have improved mortality outcomes compared with the crystalloid group: 28-day mortality was…

Reviewing Author

Ali S. Raja, MD, MBA, MPH, FACEP

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Board Member); American College of Healthcare Executives – Massachusetts (Board Member)

Ali S. Raja, MD, MBA, MPH, FACEP

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Board Member); American College of Healthcare Executives – Massachusetts (Board Member)

Albumin Does Not Confer Mortality Benefit in Patients with Sepsis

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Reviewing Author