Author information

• ¹Unit of Innovation and Organization, Navarre Health Service, Pamplona, Navarre, Spain.
• ²Navarre Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Navarre, Spain.
• ³Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain.
• ⁴Navarra's Blood and Tissue Bank, Navarre Health Service, Pamplona, Spain.
• ⁵Grupo Español de Rehabilitación Multimodal (GERM), Aragon Health Science Institute, PBM Group, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), Madrid, Spain.
• ⁶Department of Hospital Pharmacy, University Hospital of Canary Islands (CHUC), Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.

Abstract

Introduction: Albumin is used in multiple situations in patients with cirrhosis, but the evidence of its benefit is not always clear. The aim was to synthesise the evidence on the efficacy and safety of albumin compared to other treatments or no active intervention in cirrhotic patients.

Materials and methods: We conducted a systematic review including randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published in MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL up to May 2022. We assessed all-cause mortality, liver transplant, cirrhosis complications of any type and serious adverse events (SAEs). Second, AEs, hospital readmission, length of hospital stay, need for paracentesis and quality of life (QoL) were evaluated. Meta-analyses with Mantel-Haenszel method and random-effects model were performed.

Results: Fifty studies (5118 participants) were included. Albumin was associated with a reduction in mortality in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.32-0.75; low certainty) and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.34-0.83; low certainty) when compared to no administration of albumin, but not in other scenarios. In general, no additional benefit of albumin was found in liver transplants, SAEs or cirrhosis complications (low/very low certainty). Long-term administration (>3 months) of albumin led to a reduction in cirrhosis complications (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.57-0.97; low certainty), hospital readmissions, length of hospital stay, need for paracentesis and improvement of QoL.

Conclusion: Albumin may reduce mortality risk in cirrhotic patients with SBP or HE. No benefit was identified in reducing liver transplants or SAEs. Long-term administration may be associated with a lower risk of cirrhosis complications and need for paracentesis.