Long-term albumin infusion improves survival in patients with cirrhosis and ascites: An unblinded randomized trial

Table 1 Clinical data of the 54 group 1 and 46 group 2 patients at recruitment

Parameters	Group 1 (diuretics plus albumin)	Group 2 (diuretics alone)	P value
Age (yr)	63 (44 - 70)	63 (47 - 70)	NS
Sex (M/F)	33/21	29/17	NS
Etiology
HBV	7	8	NS
HCV	36	28	NS
Alcohol	1	1	NS
Cryptogenic	10	9	NS
Child-Pugh score	10 (8 -11)	9 (8 - 14)	P < 0.0001
Child class (B/C)	15/39	31/15	P < 0.0001
Hematocrit	0.33 (0.32 - 0.40)	0.34(0.25 - 0.41)	NS
Serum albumin (g/L)	30.6 (27.0 - 38.0)	31.7 (24.0 - 37.0)	NS
Serum bilirubin (mg/dL)	3.15 (1.30 - 4.90)	2.2 (1.25 - 5.50)	NS
Prothrombin activity (%)	57 (51 - 70)	62 (30 - 70)	NS
MAP (mmHg)	95 (93 - 96)	96 (94 - 98)	NS
Serum creatinine (mg/dL)	0.97 (0.93 - 1.00)	0.98 (0.95 - 0.99)	NS
Creatinine clearance (mL/min)	69 (64 - 85)	71 (65 - 75)	NS

Continuous data are given as median (range); MAP = mean arterial pressure; NS = not significant.

Table 2 Causes of death in the 25 group 1 and 29 group 2 patients who died during the follow-up

Causes of death	Group 1	Group 2	P value
Hepatocellular carcinoma	9	14	NS
Other neoplasms	2	0	NS
Hepatorenal syndrome	1	0	NS
Variceal bleeding	5	4	NS
Liver Failure	10	6	NS
Heart Failure	0	1	NS
Sepsis	2	0	NS

NS = not significant.