Original Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 14, 2011; 17(30): 3479-3486
Published online Aug 14, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i30.3479
How albumin administration for cirrhosis impacts on hospital albumin consumption and expenditure
Federica Mirici-Cappa, Paolo Caraceni, Marco Domenicali, Ernesto Gelonesi, Barbara Benazzi, Giacomo Zaccherini, Franco Trevisani, Cristina Puggioli, Mauro Bernardi
Federica Mirici-Cappa, Paolo Caraceni, Marco Domenicali, Ernesto Gelonesi, Barbara Benazzi, Giacomo Zaccherini, Franco Trevisani, Mauro Bernardi, Department of Clinical Medicine, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Cristina Puggioli, UO Pharmacology, S Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Author contributions: Mirici-Cappa F, Caraceni P and Bernardi M designed the research; Mirici-Cappa F, Caraceni P, Bernardi M, Domenicali M, Trevisani F and Puggioli C analyzed the data, Gelonesi E, Benazzi B, and Zaccherini G collected the data, Mirici-Cappa F, Caraceni P and Bernardi M wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Mauro Bernardi, Professor, UO Semeiotica Medica, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Via Albertoni, 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy. mauro.bernardi@unibo.it
Telephone: +39-51-6362939 Fax: +39-51-6362930
Received: September 29, 2010
Revised: December 27, 2010
Accepted: January 3, 2011
Published online: August 14, 2011
Abstract

AIM: To assess the impact of guidelines for albumin prescription in an academic hospital, which is a referral center for liver diseases.

METHODS: Although randomized trials and guidelines support albumin administration for some complications of cirrhosis, the high cost of albumin greatly limits its use in clinical practice. In 2003, a multidisciplinary panel at Sant’Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital (Bologna, Italy) used a literature-based consensus method to list all the acute and chronic conditions for which albumin is indicated as first- or second-line treatment. Indications in hepatology included prevention of post-paracentesis circulatory dysfunction and renal failure induced by spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and treatment of hepatorenal syndrome and refractory ascites. Although still debated, albumin administration in refractory ascites is accepted by the Italian health care system. We analyzed albumin prescription and related costs before and after implementation of the new guidelines.

RESULTS: While albumin consumption and costs doubled from 1998 to 2002, they dropped 20% after 2003, and remained stable for the following 6 years. Complications of cirrhosis, namely refractory ascites and paracentesis, represented the predominant indications, followed by major surgery, shock, enteric diseases, and plasmapheresis. Albumin consumption increased significantly after guideline implementation in the liver units, whereas it declined elsewhere in the hospital. Lastly, extra-protocol albumin prescription was estimated as < 10%.

CONCLUSION: Albumin administration in cirrhosis according to international guidelines does not increase total hospital albumin consumption if its use in settings without evidence of efficacy is avoided.

Keywords: Human serum albumin; Cost analysis; Liver cirrhosis; Critical illness; Ascites