title: The Effect of Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation on Serum Albumin, Total Protein and Body Mass: A Short-Term, Longitudinal Follow-Up Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac cachexia and low serum albumin levels are poor prognostic signs in advanced heart failure, while overweight patients or patients who gain weight after treatment have more favourable outcomes. Weight gain following LVAD implantation is common, while the dynamic changes in body mass or serum proteins have not been studied adequately. Our aim was to study short-term changes in serum albumin, total protein and body weight following LVAD implantation and to compare these changes with heart failure patients treated medically.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 15 patients scheduled for LVAD implantation and 15 patients receiving medical treatment were prospectively enrolled. Anthropometric and laboratory data for the patients were obtained at baseline and at first and sixth months after LVAD implantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anthropometric, demographic and clinical characteristics between two groups were similar at baseline. Both serum albumin (3.59±0.71 vs. 4.17±0.46g/dl, p=0.01) and total protein (6.45±0.80 vs. 7.12±0.35g/dl, p<0.01) levels were significantly lower in LVAD group at baseline. Both total protein and serum albumin levels increased significantly in LVAD group (final total protein 7.60±0.62g/dl and serum albumin 4.20±0.46g/dl; p<0.01 for both), while there was a nonsignificant small decrease in serum albumin in medical group. The change in serum albumin, but not total protein was significantly different between LVAD and medical groups at the sixth month. Body weight initially decreased in LVAD group at first month but was nonsignificantly higher compared to baseline and medical group at the sixth month. There was a moderate correlation between the percentage weight gain and percentage increase in serum albumin in LVAD group at six months (r=0.44).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In suitable patients with advanced heart failure, LVAD treatment can correct hypoalbuminaemia associated with heart failure within six months after implantation.
authors.affiliation: Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Research and Training Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tolga Sinan
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Guvenc
authors.affiliation: Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Research and Training Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozge
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Güzelburc
authors.affiliation: Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Research and Training Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ekmekci
authors.affiliation: Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Research and Training Hospital, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sevinc Bayer
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Erdogan
authors.affiliation: Haydarpasa Numune Research and Training Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Rengin Cetin
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Guvenc
authors.affiliation: Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Research and Training Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: dr_yalchin_dr@yahoo.com.tr.
authors.forename: Yalcin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Velibey
authors.affiliation: Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Research and Training Hospital, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muge
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tasdemir
authors.affiliation: Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Research and Training Hospital, Organ Transplantation Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Semra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agustos
authors.affiliation: Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Research and Training Hospital, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gokcen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orhan
authors.affiliation: Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Research and Training Hospital, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serap Aykut
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Aka
authors.affiliation: Siyami Ersek Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Center, Research and Training Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D002100:Cachexia / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D034141:Hypoalbuminemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human
keywords: Albumin; Body mass; Heart failure; Left ventricular assist device; Total protein.