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This medicine contains important and useful components, as it consists of
Human Albumin is available in the market in concentration.
Human Albumin
Before receiving Human Albumin, patients should always consult with their healthcare provider to ensure its suitability. Key precautions include:
- Allergy: Although rare, some individuals may have an allergic reaction to Human Albumin. If a patient has known allergies to human proteins, they should inform their healthcare provider.
- Cardiovascular Disease: Human Albumin may cause fluid overload, especially in patients with heart failure, renal failure, or pre-existing cardiovascular conditions. Close monitoring is necessary for these patients, and the dosage may need adjustment.
- Renal Impairment: In patients with severe renal disease, the administration of albumin must be carefully monitored, as it may exacerbate fluid retention.
- Coagulation Disorders: Albumin should be used with caution in patients with severe bleeding disorders or those who are receiving anticoagulant therapy.
- Pregnancy: The Human Albumin preparation is typically considered safe for use during pregnancy, but the benefits should always be weighed against potential risks. It is recommended to consult a healthcare provider before use during pregnancy.
- Children: While Human Albumin can be used in pediatric patients, particularly for neonates and infants, the dosing and administration require careful monitoring due to the increased risk of fluid overload.
Human Albumin is used to restore or maintain blood volume and protein levels in patients suffering from conditions such as:
- Hypovolemia: The replacement of lost fluids during shock (due to trauma, burns, surgery, or major hemorrhage) can be achieved with Human Albumin to improve blood pressure and volume.
- Neonatal Conditions: Human Albumin is used in neonates, particularly in the treatment of hypoalbuminemia (low levels of albumin in the blood) and conditions like neonatal sepsis.
- Liver Disease: It is commonly used in the management of cirrhosis, particularly in the treatment of ascites (fluid buildup in the abdomen) and hepatorenal syndrome (kidney failure associated with liver disease).
- Burns: After severe burns, Human Albumin can be administered to restore protein levels and prevent fluid loss.
- Kidney Disease: Used to treat patients with nephrotic syndrome, in which there is a significant loss of albumin in the urine leading to low plasma protein levels.
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS): In some cases, Human Albumin is used to maintain oncotic pressure and treat acute respiratory distress syndrome when complications from infection or injury lead to fluid shifts in the body.
Human Albumin should be avoided in the following situations:
- Hypersensitivity to Albumin: Individuals who have a history of severe allergic reactions to human albumin should not receive this product.
- Hypervolemia: Patients with fluid overload conditions, including those with severe heart failure, pulmonary edema, or chronic kidney disease, should not receive Human Albumin without careful monitoring, as it may exacerbate these conditions.
- Severe Anemia: In patients with significant anemia (a condition in which the blood lacks sufficient red blood cells), the use of Human Albumin may not be appropriate unless there is a concurrent need for volume expansion.
Although Human Albumin is generally well tolerated, it can cause some side effects, including:
- Allergic Reactions: Mild symptoms may include rash, urticaria (hives), or itching. More severe allergic reactions, like anaphylaxis, are rare but can occur.
- Fluid Overload: The most common side effect is fluid overload, which can lead to pulmonary edema, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), or heart failure. Monitoring of fluid balance and cardiac status is crucial.
- Hypotension: Although less common, the administration of Human Albumin may lead to a drop in blood pressure in some patients.
- Fever: Some patients may experience a mild fever after the infusion.
- Headache: Mild to moderate headache can occur in some individuals.
- Nausea and Vomiting: Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and vomiting can be associated with the infusion.
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Human Albumin is a protein solution derived from human blood plasma. It primarily serves to increase oncotic pressure, which helps to retain fluid within the blood vessels and maintain proper fluid balance in the body. Its mechanism of action includes:
- Restoration of Plasma Volume: By increasing oncotic pressure, Human Albumin helps restore blood volume, which is vital in conditions like hypovolemia due to blood loss or fluid shifts.
- Transport of Molecules: Albumin plays a critical role in the transport of various molecules such as fatty acids, hormones, drugs, and bilirubin.
- Maintaining Osmotic Pressure: The main function of albumin in the body is to maintain osmotic pressure, preventing excessive leakage of fluids from the blood vessels into the surrounding tissues.
There are no major known drug interactions with Human Albumin, but it’s important to be aware of the following:
- Diuretics: When Human Albumin is administered alongside diuretics (such as furosemide), it can lead to more profound diuresis (fluid loss). This combination should be monitored carefully.
- Anticoagulants: Human Albumin can affect the viscosity of blood, potentially altering the effectiveness of anticoagulants like heparin and warfarin. Regular blood coagulation tests are recommended.
- Corticosteroids: When combined with steroid therapy, the use of albumin may increase fluid retention and aggravate conditions such as heart failure or hypertension.
The adult dose of Human Albumin depends on the specific indication and patient condition. Typical dosing recommendations include:
- Hypovolemia or Shock: Human Albumin is typically administered as a 5% or 25% solution. The usual dose for acute volume replacement is between 500-1000 mL, depending on the severity of the condition and patient weight. The dose can be repeated depending on the patient’s fluid status.
- Liver Disease (Ascites): Human Albumin may be used to treat ascites in liver cirrhosis. A typical dose ranges from 50-100 g daily, depending on the severity of the condition.
- Neonatal: For infants with hypoalbuminemia, doses typically range from 0.5 to 1.0 g/kg body weight.
For pediatric patients, particularly neonates, Human Albumin dosing is based on body weight and the clinical indication:
- Neonatal Hypoalbuminemia: The usual dose is typically around 0.5-1.0 g/kg of body weight, administered as a slow intravenous infusion.
- Burns: For pediatric patients with severe burns, the dose will depend on the extent of the burn injury, and volumes of up to 10-20 mL/kg may be given initially, with subsequent doses depending on the fluid needs.
- Nephrotic Syndrome: Children with nephrotic syndrome may require doses between 1-2 g/kg body weight.
It is important to adjust doses based on clinical evaluation, and always under the guidance of a healthcare provider.
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In patients with renal impairment, the dose of Human Albumin may need to be adjusted. However, renal failure does not significantly alter the dosage schedule of Human Albumin itself. Careful monitoring is essential to avoid fluid overload, especially in patients with end-stage renal disease. The goal is to balance fluid replacement with the patient's ability to excrete excess fluid.