Efficacy and Safety of IV albumin for non-spontaneous bacterial peritonitis infection among patients with cirrhosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Changi General Hospital. Education Resource Centre, Singapore General Hospital, Department of Medicine. University of Arizona, Tucson, USA; Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Electronic address: douglas.adler@hsc.utah.edu
Efficacy and Safety of intravenous albumin for non-spontaneous bacterial peritonitis infection among patients with cirrhosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials INTRODUCTION Bacterial infection is a common cause of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and death among cirrhosis. The benefit of intravenous (IV) albumin among cirrhosis with non-SBP infection remains unclear as individual studies are underpowered to detect
the survival benefit of IV albumin. AIM: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous albumin for non-SBP infection among cirrhosis patients. METHODS We performed a systematic search of electronic databases (Pubmed, MEDLINE and Clinicalkey) up to 1(st) December 2019. Studies evaluating IV albumin for non-SBP infection were selected. Using random effect model, the pooled odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (95%CI) and heterogeneity were assessed. RESULTS A total of 3 RCTs (406 subjects) fulfilling the inclusion criteria among 218 citations were identified. There was no significant heterogeneity across included studies. In this meta-analysis, we found that the pooled risk of renal impairment (RI) (OR=0.58, 95%CI: 0.28-1.23, I(2)=0%), mortality at 30 days (OR=1.61, 95%CI: 0.87-3.00, I(2)=0%) as well as mortality at 90 days (OR=1.30, 95%CI: 0.81-2.07, I(2)=0%) were similar between albumin and control group. Pooled event of pulmonary edema occurred more commonly in albumin group (OR 5.17, 95%CI 1.62-16.47, I(2)=0%). More subjects achieved resolution of ACLF in IV albumin group as compared to control group (OR=0.11, 95%CI: 0.02-0.69, p=0.02). CONCLUSION Albumin did not reduce the risk of RI and mortality, yet increases the risk of pulmonary edema. Albumin may promote recovery of ACLF, however, more data is required to validate this benefit.
