Conflicting clinical trial data: a lesson from albumin

doi:10.1186/cc3931

Critical Care

Volume 9
Issue 6

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Commentary

Conflicting clinical trial data: a lesson from albumin

Greg Martin

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2005, 9:649-650doi:10.1186/cc3931


Published:	22 November 2005

See related research article http://ccforum.com/content/9/6/R745

Abstract

Albumin is a frequently prescribed drug in hospitalized patients, and its effect on clinical outcomes has been scrutinized in recent years. Data from meta-analyses has suggested harm related to albumin therapy in critically ill patients, and new observational data are consistent with these results. However, appropriately powered randomized, controlled trials have shown albumin to be safe in broad groups of critically ill patients. This article will discuss the reasons for differences between observational and controlled trial data, and the implications for future albumin use and clinical research.