The Effect of Albumin Supplementation on the Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Markers in Septic Patients

The Effect of Albumin Supplementation on the Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Markers in Septic Patients

There is currently no uniform target for serum albumin levels in some pathological conditions, but recent studies have shown that serum albumin concentrations, disease severity, and mortality rates have been linked. Although the exact mechanism is unclear, serum albumin levels may have a protective effect on the potential antioxidant effect of maintaining physiological homeostasis and its anti-inflammatory effects. The indication and efficacy of parenteral albumin therapy in the care of patients in critical condition has long been a hot topic. Although previous mortality endpoint studies were negative, it is not certain that they can be used clearly in intensive care. According to earlier research, albumin is a very important circulating antioxidant. It is believed that early suplementattion of albumin may have a beneficial effect on oxidative stress and inflammation in septic patients.

The aim of our study is to investigate changes in parameters (inflammation, oxidative stress) that can be directly influenced by the administration of albumin in septic cases in need of intensive care. Also in our earlier, relatively small number of studies, chemiluminescence analysis of non-enzymatic total antioxidant capacity showed an increase in total antioxidant capacity in septic patients. The proposed study may also clarify the background of pathophysiological changes behind this phenomenon.

There is currently no uniform target for serum albumin levels in some pathological conditions, but recent studies have shown that serum albumin concentrations, disease severity, and mortality rates have been linked. Although the exact mechanism is unclear, serum albumin levels may have a protective effect on the potential antioxidant effect of maintaining physiological homeostasis and its anti-inflammatory effects. The indication and efficacy of parenteral albumin therapy in the care of patients in critical condition has long been a hot topic. Although previous mortality endpoint studies were negative, it is not certain that they can be used clearly in intensive care. According to earlier research, albumin is a very important circulating antioxidant. It is believed that early suplementattion of albumin may have a beneficial effect on oxidative stress and inflammation in septic patients.

The aim of our study is to investigate changes in parameters (inflammation, oxidative stress) that can be directly influenced by the administration of albumin in septic cases in need of intensive care. Also in our earlier, relatively small number of studies, chemiluminescence analysis of non-enzymatic total antioxidant capacity showed an increase in total antioxidant capacity in septic patients. The proposed study may also clarify the background of pathophysiological changes behind this phenomenon.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 years or older
• Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) with sepsis or septic shock, or development of sepsis or septic shock during the ICU stay, as defined by the Sepsis-3 criteria
• Serum albumin concentration below 30 g/L
• Written informed consent provided by the participant or the participant's next of kin before enrollment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age younger than 18 years
• Pregnancy
• Any autoimmune disease
• Refusal or absence of informed consent
• Documented disease or treatment affecting the immune response, including:
• Malignant hematological disease
• Chronic systemic corticosteroid therapy
• Biological therapy
• Immunosuppressive treatment following organ transplantation
• End-stage malignant disease