0000000000030905
AUTHOR
Roberto Giulio Romanelli
The rational use of albumin in patients with cirrhosis and ascites
Abstract Background. Ascites is one of the most frequent severe complications in patients with liver cirrhosis. The treatment of this chronic disease usually requires the prolonged use of albumin, frequently continued even after patients’ discharge from the hospital. Aims. Aim of the study was to define a consensus among Italian physicians with regard to the use of albumin in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and ascites. Methods. The study adopted the Delphi technique to conduct the consensus activities. All controversial issues related to the use of albumin were identified by the experts’ board and proposed to the 68 participating hepatology centres through two subsequent questionnair…
Long-term use of human albumin for the treatment of ascites in patients with hepatic cirrhosis: The interim analysis of the ANSWER study
s / Digestive and Liver Disease 47S (2015) e1–e18 e7 (months; 95% CI): CPT 0 62 (52.9–71.1), A 44 (41.6–46.4), B 22 (19.7–24.3), C 9 (6.6–11.3), p<0.0001. Comparisons between survivals of CTP 0 vs A, B and C were also statistically different (p<0.0001 in all associations). The prognosis of patients in the intermediateBCLCstagealsodifferedaccording to the liver function (0 vs A vs B, p<0.0001). Conclusions: The newly proposed CTP class 0 identifies a different subgroup of patientswith a better prognosis, alsowhen applied in a European cohort, where HCV aetiology is predominant. This new approach impacts not only on outcome prediction but also, potentially, on treatment allocation, better str…