Review article
Albumins in solid tumor patients
Miroslav Banović
; University Hospital for Tumors, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Centre, Zagreb, Croatia
Irena Veliki-Dalić
; University Hospital for Tumors, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Centre, Zagreb, Croatia
Miro Banović
; School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Nikola Lesar
; School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
The manufacture of albumin derived from human plasma started by Professor E. J. Cohn during World War II has expanded into international business over the past sixty years (1). In vital situations, albumin was used as a plasma expander. This is a biological preparation and always potentially dangerous. The manufacture of albumin is getting more and more expensive as the preparation has to meet standards ever higher. With the market abundant in artificial macro-molecular plasma expanders, improved parenteral nutrition, and studies questioning the effectiveness of albumin use, the administration of albumin has been reduced. Because of the nature of their disease and chemoradiotherapy treatment, patients with tumors are prone to having low protein levels. However, indications for albumin therapy are restricted, the same as that in other patient groups. With the quality parenteral and enteral nutrition available, the use of albumin to correct hypoalbuminemia is not justified.
Keywords
hypoalbuminemia; albumin physiology; calculating albumin dosage; albumin administration
Hrčak ID:
277473
URI
Publication date:
30.11.2011.
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