From the Research
The albumin level of 41 g/L is within the normal reference range of 30-45 g/L, indicating normal albumin status, and no intervention is required as this result reflects adequate liver synthetic function and nutritional status. Albumin is the most abundant protein in blood plasma, produced by the liver, and serves important functions including maintaining oncotic pressure, transporting hormones and medications, and acting as an antioxidant. Normal albumin levels suggest that the body is able to synthesize sufficient protein and that nutritional intake is likely adequate. This result also indicates that there is no significant protein loss through conditions such as kidney disease, malnutrition, or chronic inflammation. According to the most recent and highest quality study 1, albumin administration is most indicated in the management of cirrhosis complications, fluid resuscitation, or treatment of severe and refractory edema, especially in patients with hypoalbuminemia and not responding to other treatments. However, in this case, the albumin level is within the normal range, and therefore, no albumin supplementation is necessary. Regular monitoring of albumin levels may be recommended as part of routine health assessments, particularly if there are underlying health conditions that could affect protein status.
Some key points to consider:
- The use of albumin in hypoalbuminemia or for nutritional purposes is no longer recommended 1
- Albumin is used as a second-line and adjunctive to crystalloids for fluid resuscitation in hypovolemic shock, sepsis, and septic shock, severe burns, toxic epidermal necrolysis, intradialytic hypotension, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, major surgery, non-traumatic brain injury, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and severe and refractory edema with hypoalbuminemia has a low to moderate quality of evidence and weak recommendation to use 1
- Measuring albumin may be helpful for predicting the prognosis in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury receiving continuous renal replacement therapy 2
- Monitoring of patterns of change in serum albumin levels is useful for predicting in-hospital mortality and the length of ICU stay 3
- There are minimal data that support the routine use of intravenous albumin during kidney replacement therapy, and adequately powered trials to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous albumin in this setting are clearly needed 4