Albumin and related products
This chapter gives an account of albumin and its related products. Albumin is the most abundant protein in human plasma comprising of 50-60% of the total plasma protein and accounts for 80-85% of the osmotic pressure of plasma and therefore maintains and regulate plasma volume. Albumin is used in treatment of various conditions such as hypoalbuminemia, malnutrition, hypotension and fluid replacement. Albumin is the primary replacement fluid used in therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), except in clinical disorders which require replacement with specific factors present in the plasma. Some other conditions in which albumin is used therapeutically include cirrhosis with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, nephrotic syndrome and hypoalbuminemia. Albumin may be contraindicated in any disease state that would be exacerbated by volume expansion, including severe anemia, congestive heart failure and pulmonary edema. Adverse effects of albumin administration are rare and these include changes in vital signs, nausea, fever/chills, allergic reactions and hypocalcemia and related complications.
