title: Albumin administration prevents the onset of pressure ulcers in intensive care unit patients.
abstract: Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a common problem in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) and they account for more than 70% of patients with low serum albumin at admission. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of intravenous administration of albumin in patients with low serum albumin < 3·3 g/dl. In a 1-year period, a total of 73 patients were admitted to the ICU (males 45, 61·64% and females 28, 38·36%); of these, 21 patients were admitted with hypoalbuminaemia (serum albumin < 3·3 g/dl) and randomised into two groups: 11 patients were treated with 25 g intravenous albumin for the first 3 days within the first week of ICU stay (group A) and 10 patients did not receive albumin (group B). Three patients (27·27%) showed the onset of PUs in group A, whereas seven patients (70%) showed the onset of PUs within the first 7 days of stay in group B. Moreover, ulcers of group B were more severe than those of group A. This study shows that intravenous administration of albumin reduces the onset of PUs in patients admitted to the ICU and in some cases it also reduces the risk of progression to advanced stages of PUs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Medical Science, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Medical Science, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grande
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Medical Science, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buffone
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gallelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Medical Science, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Santo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caroleo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Medical Science, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tropea
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Medical Science, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amantea
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Medical Science, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Franciscis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D034141:Hypoalbuminemia / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D015415:Biomarkers; D012709:Serum Albumin
keywords: Albumin; Intensive care unit; Pressure ulcers