TY - JOUR
T1 - The Therapeutic use of human albumin in cancer patients’ management
AU - Moujaess, Elissar
AU - Fakhoury, May
AU - Assi, Tarek
AU - Elias, Hanine
AU - El Karak, Fadi
AU - Ghosn, Marwan
AU - Kattan, Joseph
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017
PY - 2017/12/1
Y1 - 2017/12/1
N2 - Human albumin (HA) has been widely used in clinical practice due to its unique physiological characteristics and pharmacokinetics. However, with the absence of clear institutional recommendations, its uncontrolled prescription remains largely controversial. An extensive review on the albumin chemistry, pharmacology, physiology and pathology was performed, and data on commercially available HA, its cost, medical usage and the related available guidelines, particularly in oncology patients were gathered. Studies assessing the appropriate use and safety of HA in cancer patients are lacking. A retrospective survey of the appropriateness of HA infusions according to the SIMTI guidelines (2009) was performed in our department. Among 53 patients who received HA infusions, only 5.7% of the indications were appropriate for HA administration. Occasionally appropriate and inappropriate indications were considered in 10% and 84.3% of the prescriptions respectively with a relatively high cost. The adoption of strict guidelines may substantially reduce the inappropriate use and the subsequent healthcare costs.
AB - Human albumin (HA) has been widely used in clinical practice due to its unique physiological characteristics and pharmacokinetics. However, with the absence of clear institutional recommendations, its uncontrolled prescription remains largely controversial. An extensive review on the albumin chemistry, pharmacology, physiology and pathology was performed, and data on commercially available HA, its cost, medical usage and the related available guidelines, particularly in oncology patients were gathered. Studies assessing the appropriate use and safety of HA in cancer patients are lacking. A retrospective survey of the appropriateness of HA infusions according to the SIMTI guidelines (2009) was performed in our department. Among 53 patients who received HA infusions, only 5.7% of the indications were appropriate for HA administration. Occasionally appropriate and inappropriate indications were considered in 10% and 84.3% of the prescriptions respectively with a relatively high cost. The adoption of strict guidelines may substantially reduce the inappropriate use and the subsequent healthcare costs.
KW - Guidelines
KW - Human albumin infusion
KW - Hypoalbuminemia
KW - Medical oncology
KW - Survey of appropriate indication
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85034601707&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2017.11.008
DO - 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2017.11.008
M3 - Review article
C2 - 29198333
AN - SCOPUS:85034601707
SN - 1040-8428
VL - 120
SP - 203
EP - 209
JO - Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
JF - Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
ER -