Details

Albumin is used for treating a variety of conditions, including shock due to blood loss in the body, burns, low protein levels due to surgery or liver failure, and as an additional medicine in bypass surgery. It may be used for certain conditions as determined by your doctor. Albumin (human) is a concentrate of plasma proteins from human blood. It works by increasing plasma volume or serum albumin levels. Albumin is considered harmful during pregnancy and lactation.

Typical Uses

Albumin is derived from human plasma used to treat shock as a result of blood loss in the body (hypovolemia), burns, low protein levels (hypoproteinemia) due to surgery or liver failure, adult respiratory distress syndrome, dialysis, and as an additional medicine in bypass surgery. It increases blood plasma volume or serum albumin levels. It increases plasma volume or serum albumin levels.

Side Effects

Albumin may cause an anaphylactic shock. Moreover, it may also lead to nausea, fever, chills, flushing, hives, skin rash, itching, headache, breathing difficulty, severe stomach cramps, vomiting or diarrhoea, sudden unexpected changes in blood pressure, rapid heartbeat or allergic reactions.

Drug Interactions

Albumin should not be diluted with sterile water because this can cause haemolysis. Do not mix with protein hydrolysates or solutions containing alcohol since these combinations can cause the proteins to precipitate.

Do not mix with other medicinal products including blood and blood components. Albumin is compatible with whole blood, plasma, saline, glucose or sodium lactate.

Mechanism of action

Human albumin increases intravascular oncotic pressure and causes movement of fluids from interstitial into intravascular space. Solutions containing 5% human albumin are usually used in hypovolemic patients, whereas more concentrated 25% solutions are recommended in patients in whom fluid and sodium intake must be minimised e.g. patients with hypoproteinaemia or cerebral oedema or in paediatric patients.

Pregnancy Category : C