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Intravenous albumin has historically been used as a plasma volume expander. In the current review, the authors summarize other potential roles of albumin, including those of antioxidant and immunomodulator, particularly within the scope of treating patients with cirrhosis.
Because of its capacity to bind a wide variety of molecules, albumin plays critical roles in solubilization, transport, and metabolism. In addition, albumin is the source of 80% of the extracellular thiols, which actively scavenge oxidative and nitrosative reactive species, making albumin the most important of the extracellular antioxidants. Its immunomodulatory properties seem to stem from its capacity to bind endotoxins, lower endotoxin activity, and inhibit tumor necros…