Albumin is a major protein found in human blood plasma, making up about half of its total protein content. The liver synthesizes albumin, producing approximately 10 to 15 grams daily and releasing it into the bloodstream. It is essential for various bodily functions.
Albumin’s Natural Functions
Albumin plays a central role in maintaining the body’s fluid distribution by regulating oncotic pressure. This pressure prevents fluid from leaking out of blood vessels into surrounding tissues. Without sufficient albumin, fluid can accumulate in various body parts, leading to swelling.
Beyond fluid balance, albumin acts as a versatile transport protein within the bloodstream. It binds to and carries a wide array of substances, including hormones, fatty acids, bilirubin, and many medications, facilitating their delivery throughout the body. Albumin also contributes to antioxidant defense, helping to protect cells from damage. It further assists in regulating blood pH, acting as a chemical buffer to maintain the blood’s acid-base balance within a healthy range.
Medical Conditions Leading to Albumin Administration
Several medical conditions can lead to critically low albumin levels, known as hypoalbuminemia. Severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis, is a common cause, as the liver’s impaired function reduces albumin production. Kidney diseases, particularly nephrotic syndrome, can result in significant albumin loss through the urine, as damaged kidneys fail to prevent its excretion.
Severe burns cause substantial fluid and protein loss, leading to a rapid decrease in circulating albumin. Critical illnesses, including sepsis, can increase blood vessel permeability, allowing albumin to leak out. Conditions involving significant blood loss or shock often require albumin administration to help restore circulating fluid. Malnutrition, especially a lack of protein, can also contribute to low albumin levels due to insufficient building blocks for its synthesis.
Therapeutic Benefits of Administered Albumin
Administered albumin helps restore and maintain adequate fluid balance and blood volume within the circulatory system. This is particularly beneficial in situations of shock or severe fluid loss, where it helps stabilize blood pressure and ensure proper organ perfusion. By increasing the concentration of protein in the blood, albumin helps draw fluid back into the vessels.
Albumin therapy also supports the transport of various substances, including medications and toxins. In patients with severe liver disease, for instance, it can provide additional binding sites for drugs, influencing their distribution and effectiveness. Albumin administration can also help reduce swelling by counteracting fluid leakage from blood vessels into tissues, alleviating edema and improving patient comfort and organ function.
What to Know About Albumin Therapy
Albumin used for medical therapy is derived from human plasma, a component of donated blood, and undergoes processing to ensure its safety and purity. It is administered intravenously, directly into a patient’s vein.
Receiving albumin therapy requires careful medical supervision and monitoring by healthcare professionals. This oversight helps assess the patient’s response, manage potential considerations like fluid overload, and observe for any adverse effects. Albumin is a prescribed medical treatment, and its use is determined based on a patient’s specific medical condition and needs.