Khan RTY, Ahsam S, Kumar SK, Khan K, Kakar MT, Hyder A, Malik W, Mubarak M, Luck NH. Hypoalbuminemia as a predictor of mortality in patients with acute cholangitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol 2026; 17(1): 113373 [PMID: 41884201 DOI: 10.4291/wjgp.v17.i1.113373]
Reader's ID:
08549003
Submitted on:
March 25, 2026, 03:23
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Reader Comments:
I thank Khan et al for conducting this meta-analysis and finding out that hypoalbuminemia is a risk factor for mortality in cholangitis. I have a few comments that have to be taken into account while interpreting this study. First, this meta-analysis includes only retrospective studies. Second, there is no subgroup analysis by benign versus malignant aetiology of acute cholangitis. The outcomes of cholangitis depend on aetiology, which is not studied. This indicates whether hypoalbuminemia is due to cholangitis as an acute-phase reactant, or whether any underlying aetiology needs to be identified. Whether any intervention in acute cholangitis with hypoalbuminemia has any role in the outcome has not been studied. However, this meta-analysis provides meaningful research questions for future prospective studies.