Albumin and Critical Care

• Introduction

• The physiology of albumin

• What is the physiologic role of albumin?

• What causes hypoalbuminemia?

• What is the role of hypoalbuminemia in critical illness

• Does a low serum albumin mean that the patient wiil become edematous?

• Hypoalbuminemia in critical illness

• What is the relationship between serum albumin concentration and malnutrition?

• Is there any relationship between hypoalbuminemia and outcome?

• Albumin as a therapeutic Solution

• Key Points

• References

This tutorial was prepared by (c) Patrick Neligan 2001