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World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. Mar 22, 2026; 17(1): 113373
Published online Mar 22, 2026. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v17.i1.113373
Published online Mar 22, 2026. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v17.i1.113373
Hypoalbuminemia as a predictor of mortality in patients with acute cholangitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Raja Taha Yaseen Khan, Nasir H Luck, Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi 74200, Pakistan
Salman Ahsam, Medicine and Allied, Social Security Hospital, Faisalabad 95700, Punjab, Pakistan
Sanjay Kirshan Kumar, Department of Gastroenterology, Ahalia Hospital, Abu Dhabi 51133, United Arab Emirates
Khaiber Khan, Medicine and Allied, Bolan Medical Complex, Quetta 87300, Balochistan, Pakistan
Muhammad Talha Kakar, Wadana Malik, Medicine and Allied, Bolan Medical Center, Quetta 87300, Balochistan, Pakistan
Ali Hyder, Department of Gastroenterology, Chandka Medical College, SMBBU, Larkana 77100, Sindh, Pakistan
Muhammed Mubarak, Department of Histopathology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi 74200, Sindh, Pakistan
Co-first authors: Raja Taha Yaseen Khan and Salman Ahsam.
Author contributions: Khan RTY, Ahsam S, Kumar SK contributed to data extraction; Hyder A, Khan K, Kakar MT, Malik W contributed to data entrance in Revmann; all authors contributed to article writing; Mubarak M and Luck NH contributed to reviewed the manuscript when it was ready; Khan RTY and Ahsam S have played important and indispensable roles in the manuscript preparation as the co-first authors.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Corresponding author: Raja Taha Yaseen Khan, MBBS, Assistant Professor, Consultant, FCPS, Principal Investigator, Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, State Life Building, Karachi 74200, Pakistan. raja_taha101488@hotmail.com
Received: August 25, 2025
Revised: October 2, 2025
Accepted: January 9, 2026
Published online: March 22, 2026
Processing time: 209 Days and 10.4 Hours
Revised: October 2, 2025
Accepted: January 9, 2026
Published online: March 22, 2026
Processing time: 209 Days and 10.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Early recognition of high-risk patients is essential in acute cholangitis. This meta-analysis shows that hypoalbuminemia is strongly linked to mortality, making serum albumin a practical bedside marker. Being inexpensive and widely available, albumin measurement at admission can guide clinicians toward intensified monitoring, early biliary drainage, and tailored therapy, ultimately improving survival outcomes in this life-threatening condition.