Is hypoalbuminemia a predictor for acute kidney injury after coronary bypass grafting in diabetes mellitus patients?

Abstract Objective: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most important complications after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedure. Serum albumin, which is an acute phase reactant, is suggested to be associated with AKI development subsequent to various surgical procedures. In this study, we research the relation between preoperative serum albumin levels and postoperative AKI development in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients undergoing isolated CABG. Methods: We included a total of 634 diabetic patients undergoing CABG (60.5±9.1 years, 65.1% male) into this study, which was performed between September 2009 and January 2014 in a single center. The relation between preoperative serum albumin levels and postoperative AKI development was observed. AKI was evaluated and diagnosed using the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) classification. Results: AKI was diagnosed in 230 (36.3%) patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the independent predictors of AKI development. Proteinuria (odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.066 [1.002-1.135]; P=0.043) and low preoperative serum albumin levels (OR and 95% CI, 0.453 [0.216-0.947]; P=0.035) were found to be independent predictors of AKI. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, albumin level <3mg/dL (area under the curve: 0.621 [0.572-0.669], P<0.001) had 83% sensitivity and 10% specificity on predicting the development of AKI. Conclusion: We observed that a preoperative low serum albumin level was associated with postoperative AKI development in patients with DM who underwent isolated CABG procedure. We emphasize that this adjustable albumin level should be considered before the operation since it is an easy and clinically implementable management for the prevention of AKI development.

Prevalence of hypoalbuminemia in outpatients with HIV/AIDS

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Hypoalbuminemia may predict progression of disease and mortality in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This study was conducted to investigate the risk factors associated with hypoalbuminemia in outpatients with HIV/AIDS. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in 196 outpatients with HIV/AIDS. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypoalbuminemia was 11.7%. The only risk factor associated with hypoalbuminemia was current antiretroviral therapy (no exposure: odds ratio=3.46, 95% confidence interval=1.20-10.02). CONCLUSIONS: The monitoring of plasma albumin is key to determine when antiretroviral therapy should be initiated in individuals not exposed to antiretroviral medicines.

Clinical and laboratory signs associated to serious dengue disease in hospitalized children / Sinais clínicos e laboratoriais para o dengue com evolução grave em crianças hospitalizadas

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the validity of clinical and laboratory signs to serious dengue disease in hospitalized children. Methods: Retrospective cohort of children (<18 years) hospitalized with dengue diagnosis (2007-2008). Serious dengue disease was defined as death or use of advanced life support therapy. Accuracy measures and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were calculated. Results: Of the total (n = 145), 53.1% were female, 69% aged 2-11 years, and 15.9% evolved to the worse outcome. Lethargy had the best accuracy (positive likelihood ratio >19 and negative likelihood ratio <0.6). Pleural effusion and abdominal distension had higher sensitivity (82.6%). History of bleeding (epistaxis, gingival or gastrointestinal bleeding) and severe hemorrhage (pulmonary or gastrointestinal bleeding) in physical examination were more frequent in serious dengue disease (p < 0.01), but with poor accuracy (positive likelihood ratio = 1.89 and 3.89; negative likelihood ratio = 0.53 and 0.60, respectively). Serum albumin was lower in serious dengue forms (p < 0.01). Despite statistical significance (p < 0.05), both groups presented thrombocytopenia. Platelets count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin parameters had area under the curve <0.5. Conclusions: Lethargy, abdominal distension, pleural effusion, and hypoalbuminemia were the best clinical and laboratorial markers of serious dengue disease in hospitalized children, while bleeding, severe hemorrhage, hemoconcentration and thrombocytopenia did not reach adequate diagnostic accuracy. In pediatric referral hospitals, the absence of hemoconcentration does not imply absence of plasma leakage, particularly in children with previous fluid replacement. These findings may contribute to the clinical management of dengue in children at referral hospitals.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar a validade dos sinais clínicos e laboratoriais para o dengue com evolução grave em crianças hospitalizadas. Métodos Coorte retrospectivo de crianças (<18 anos) internadas com dengue (2007-2008). Evolução grave foi definida como óbito ou pelo uso de terapia de suporte avançado de vida. Foram calculadas medidas de acurácia e área sob a curva ROC. Resultados Do total (n = 145), 53,1% casos eram do sexo feminino, 69% de 2 a 11 anos e 15,9% evoluíram para gravidade. Letargia obteve a melhor acurácia (razão de verossimilhança positiva RVP > 19 e RV negativa RVN < 0,6). Derrame pleural e distensão abdominal apresentaram maior sensibilidade (se = 82,6%). Relato de sangramentos (epistaxe, gengivorragia ou gastrointestinal) e hemorragia grave (pulmonar ou gastrointestinal) presente no exame físico foi mais frequente nos casos com evolução grave (p <0,01), porém com baixa acurácia (RVP = 1,89 e 3,89; RVN = 0,53 e 0,60, respectivamente). Os níveis de albumina sérica foram mais baixos nas formas graves (p <0,01). Ambos os grupos apresentaram trombocitopenia, apesar da diferença estatística (p <0,05). Contagem de plaquetas, hematócrito e hemoglobina apresentaram área sob a curva ROC < 0,5. Conclusões Letargia, distensão abdominal, derrame pleural e hipoalbuminemia foram os melhores marcadores clínicos e laboratoriais de dengue com evolução grave em crianças hospitalizadas, enquanto sangramento, hemorragia grave, hemoconcentração e trombocitopenia não tiveram boa acurácia diagnóstica. Em hospitais de referência pediátricos, a ausência de hemoconcentração não implica ausência de extravasamento plasmático, particularmente quando há reposição anterior de volume. Esses resultados podem contribuir para o manejo clínico do dengue em crianças em hospitais de referência.

Serum albumin level as a risk factor for mortality in burn patients

OBJECTIVE: Hypoalbuminemia is a common clinical deficiency in burn patients and is associated with complications related to increased extravascular fluid, including edema, abnormal healing, and susceptibility to sepsis. Some prognostic scales do not include biochemical parameters, whereas others consider them together with comorbidities. The purpose of this study was to determine whether serum albumin can predict mortality in burn patients. METHODS: We studied burn patients ≥16 years of age who had complete clinical documentation, including the Abbreviated Burn Severity Index, serum albumin, globulin, and lipids. Sensitivity and specificity analyses were performed to determine the cut-off level of albumin that predicts mortality. RESULTS: In our analysis of 486 patients, we found that mortality was higher for burns caused by flame (p = 0.000), full-thickness burns (p = 0.004), inhalation injuries (p = 0.000), burns affecting >30% of the body surface area (p = 0.001), and burns associated with infection (p = 0.008). Protein and lipid levels were lower in the patients who died (p<0.05). Albumin levels showed the highest sensitivity and specificity (84% and 83%, respectively), and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (0.869) had a cut-off of 1.95 g/dL for mortality. CONCLUSION: Patients with albumin levels <2 g/dL had a mortality risk of >80%, with 84% sensitivity and 83% specificity. At admission, the albumin level could be used as a sensitive and specific marker of burn severity and an indicator of mortality. .

Niveles de albumina y hemoglobina en lactantes desnutridos severos / Albumin and hemoglobin levels in severely malnourished infants

Introducción: Durante los procesos de desnutrición (DNT), se encuentran déficit de macro y micronutrientes. En Colombia la cifra de DNTsevera en niños de 1 a 2 años corresponde al 2% en el año 2000. Objetivo: Determinar los niveles de albúmina (ALB) y hemoglobina (HB), en niños menores de 24 meses con DNT severa, que ingresaron a un Hospital Universitario de Tercer Nivel de Atención del nororiente colombiano, en un periodo de 6 años. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo y comparativo de 134 niños con DNT severa, se diagnosticaron según signos cl ínicos y bioquímicos característicos de Kwashiorkor (KW) y Marasmo (MAR). La muestra fue dividida en tres grupos: DNT severos tipo KW, MAR y grupo control. Conclusiones: Los niveles de ALB y HB, se encuentran disminuidos en los procesos de DNT severa. El comportamiento de los tres grupos estudiados coincide con lo que reporta la literatura hasta el día de hoy.

Introduction: In the category of malnutrition (MNT), we find two main categories, macro and micronutrients deficiency. In Colombia severe MNT rates in children between the ages of 1 to 2 years, corresponded to 2 % according to 2000's statistics. Objective:To determine the levels of albumin and hemoglobin in children less than 2 years old with severe MNT that were treated at a Colombian Hospital University in a period of 6 years. Patients and Methods: Comparative and retrospective study of 134 children with severe,MNT, were diagnosis according to clinical and biochemical signals of Kwashiorkor (KW) and Marasmus (MAR). The children were divided in 3 groups: severe MNT type KW, MAR, and a control group.Conclusions:The albumin and hemoglobin levels are decreased in severe MNT processes. The results found in the 3 groups studied match with the reports showed by the literature today.

Functional reversal of duodenal switch with maximum lengthening of gommon channel in a child's C cirrhotic patient: case report and review of the literature

Functional Reversal of Douodenal Switch is avariant of biliopancreatic bypass and is a rare procedure which involves sleeve gastrectomy and pylorus preservation with aduodenal transaction. Many complications results from the procedure specially liver frtilure so consulation for reversal of duodenal switch should be entertained prior to the onset of the complications

Infectious disease pattern and serum albumin levels in elderly people hospitalized at Dr. Moewardi Hospital Surakarta during 2004.

AIM: to have the picture of infectious disease pattern and serum albumin level in elderly people with respiratory tract infection hospitalized at the Internal Medicine Ward, Dr. Moewardi Hospital Surakarta. METHODS: descriptive-retrospective study. Sample was taken from the medical records of patients hospitalized at the Internal Medicine Ward DR. Moewardi Hospital from January to December 2004. Infectious disease includes the ones at the respiratory tract (pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)), urinary tract infection (UTI), digestive tract infection (gastroenteritis, typhoid fever), and tetanus. Serum albumin level data of patients with respiratory tract infection were taken from the hospital's laboratory results. RESULTS: from 337 elderly patients hospitalized at the Internal Medicine Ward DR. Moewardi Hospital Surakarta, proportion of patients aged 70 years or above was 39.17%, aged 60-64 years old were 37.09%, and 66-69 years were 23.74%. Distribution of diseases according to frequency is respiratory tract infection (66.77%), urinary tract infection (15.73 %), digestive tract infection (15.43%) (12.17%) and tetanus (2.07 %). From 57 elderly with respiratory tract infection, we found 45 individuals (78.95%) with hypoalbuminemia. CONCLUSION: the most common infectious disease found in the elderly hospitalized at Dr. Moewardi Hospital Surakarta is respiratory tract infection. Hypoalbuminemia was found in 78.95% of 57 elderly with respiratory tract infection.

Serum Albumin Level Correlates with Disease Severity in Patients with Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome

Hypoalbuminemia frequently occurs in Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), but clinical significance of hypoalbuminemia is not well known. This study was designed to evaluate hypoalbuminemia as a marker of severity of disease in patients with HFRS. We evaluated the relationship between the level of serum albumin and clinical parameters representing the severity of disease in 144 patients with HFRS. The patients were divided into three groups based on the level of serum albumin; Group I (normal serum albumin), Group II (serum albumin or =3.0 g/dL), and Group III (serum albumin <3.0 g/dL). Of the total of 144 patients, 42 patients (29.2%) were categorized as Group I, 39 patients (27.1%) as Group II, and 63 patients (43.8%) as Group III. Group III had a higher rate of incidence in episode of hypotension, pulmonary edema than did Group I and Group II. The lowest level of serum albumin was positively correlated with platelet count (r=0.505, p<0.001) and was negatively correlated with leukocyte count (r=-0.329, p<0.001), BUN (r=-0.484, p<0.001), serum creatinine (r=-0.394, p<0.001), and AST (r=-0.251, p=0.002). Our data suggest that hypoalbuminemia frequently occurs in the acute stage of HFRS, and level of serum albumin is associated with the disease severity of HFRS.