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Among patients with decompensated cirrhosis, who have poor long-term survival, a few small trials suggest that scheduled albumin infusions may reduce hospital admissions and improve transplant-free survival. Beneficial effects of albumin include blood volume expansion to protect renal perfusion and the promotion of antioxidant and scavenging properties.
In an open-label trial conducted in Italy, 440 patients with cirrhosis and ascites on standard doses of diuretics were randomized to receive standard medical treatment (SMT) alone or in combination with long-term albumin infusion (40 g twice weekly for 2 weeks and then weekly) for up to 18 months.
The primary endpoint of 18-month overall survival was significantly higher in the albumin group c…