2009 Volume 55 Issue 5 Pages 596-603
Background and objects: Although it is well known that the use of imported albumin products in Japan is high, the status of albumin usage in hospitals is not clear. In our hospital, albumin products are managed by the Transfusion Division, and indications for albumin use are evaluated according to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare before administration. The amount of albumin used in our hospital is relatively lower than that in other hospitals. We therefore reviewed t albumin usage in our hospital in comparison with that at the seven other general hospitals to clarify the characteristics of use at our hospital.
Materials and methods: We investigated the status of usage of albumin products for all patients who received albumin products at our hospital and seven general hospitals for a month in April, 2005, and also investigated the background of usage.
Results: The number of participants at our hospital and the seven hospitals was 56 and 444 patients, and the number of albumin products used was 180 and 2,512 vials, respectively. The major purpose of albumin administration was the maintenance of circulation at our hospital, and hypoalbuminemia at the seven hospitals. Serum albumin level before albumin administration at our hospital and the seven hospitals was 2.3±0.5g/dl or 2.8±0.7g/dl(p<0.000001), usage amount of albumin per therapy was 23.5±15.3g or 44.7±59.3g(p<0.000001), and the mortality rate after albumin therapy was 16.1% or 14.6% (P=0.77), respectively. Mortality rate was t higher for patients with lower serum albumin before albumin administration.
Discussion: The amount of albumin used per therapy was much lower in our hospital than in the seven other hospitals. We consider that one main reason for this is our review of the indications for albumin before use. This study indicates that hypoalbuminemia may be a marker of bad prognosis, but that albumin administration may not improve the prognosis.
