300 consecutive patients with cirrhosis of any aetiology admitted with features of sepsis and sepsis induced hypotension to the intensive care unit, the emergency department and the step down units of Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, who fulfil the inclusion criteria.

This study will be a single centre prospective randomized comparative trial. Patients will be randomized into two groups. Group A will receive crystalloid, 0.9% sodium chloride solution (total of 30ml/kg over 30 minutes) and Group B will receive colloid, 5% albumin (250 ml over 15 minutes).

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Cirrhotic patients of any aetiology with Infection - suspected or documented and Mean arterial pressure less than 65 mm of Hg

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Cirrhosis patients in septic shock who are already on vasopressors and/or inotropes
2. Cirrhosis patients in septic shock with structural heart disease
3. Cirrhosis patients in septic shock with chronic renal failure/dialysis dependent/volume overloaded state
4. Cirrhosis patients in shock, caused by other reasons, other than septic shock
5. Cirrhosis patients in septic shock in whom contraindication to internal jugular or subclavian line insertion is present
6. Age less than 18 years
7. Previous episode of septic shock during the same hospital stay
8. Pregnant or lactating women
9. Patients in need for emergent surgical interventions
10. Cirrhosis patients in septic shock with chronic obstructive lung disease and right heart failure
11. Cirrhosis patients in septic shock with associated upper gastrointestinal bleed or coagulopathy related bleed with a haemoglobin of less than 8g/dL or requiring urgent transfusions of blood and blood products
12. A previous adverse reaction to human albumin solution