Kinetics of 5% and 20% albumin: A controlled crossover trial in volunteers

Abstract

Background: Albumin for intravenous infusion is marketed in two concentrations, 20% and 5%, but how they compare with regard to plasma volume expansion over time is unclear. Methods: In a prospective crossover study, 12 volunteers received 3 ml kg−1 of 20% albumin and, on another occasion, 12 ml kg−1 of 5% albumin over 30 min. Hence, equivalent amounts of albumin were given. Blood was collected on 15 occasions over 6 h. Mass balance and volume kinetics were used to estimate the plasma volume expansion and the capillary leakage of albumin and fluid based on measurements of blood hemoglobin, plasma albumin, and the colloid osmotic pressure. Results: The greatest plasma volume expansion was 16.0 ± 6.4% (mean ± SD) with 20% albumin and 19.0 ± 5.2% with 5% albumin (p