Asjad Khan, Eric B Milbrandt and Ramesh Venkataraman
Critical Care 2007, 11:314 doi:10.1186/cc6135
Will albumin provide any benefit in a severely ill group?
Shahed Omar
(2007-10-08 09:56) Bara ICU Wits University
I think that the median Apache score of the study population was about 15. In a population
with a greater severity of illness we might expect the level of inflammation and therefore
endothelial dysfunction to be greater. It is possible that if that were the case the
albumin may leak out of the vascular compartment and not provide the same increase
in oncotic pressure. The benefits of such a therapy may then be lost. However the
concept of increasing oncotic pressure and simultaneous diuresis for ALI/ARDS is certainly
appealing.
Journal club critique
Will albumin provide any benefit in a severely ill group?
Shahed Omar (2007-10-08 09:56) Bara ICU Wits University
I think that the median Apache score of the study population was about 15. In a population with a greater severity of illness we might expect the level of inflammation and therefore endothelial dysfunction to be greater. It is possible that if that were the case the albumin may leak out of the vascular compartment and not provide the same increase in oncotic pressure. The benefits of such a therapy may then be lost. However the concept of increasing oncotic pressure and simultaneous diuresis for ALI/ARDS is certainly appealing.
Competing interests
None declared
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