Randomized cross-over trial comparing albumin and frusemide infusions in nephrotic syndrome

The contribution of hypoalbuminemia to impaired diuretic responsiveness can be overcome by administering larger doses of loop diuretics. However, the clinical efficacy of the combination of loop-acting diuretics with human albumin remains controversial. In the study reported here, 16 children with nephrotic syndrome and refractory edema were randomized in a cross-over trial to receive either the combination of 20% human albumin and frusemide infusion (HA+FU infusion group) or frusemide infusion alone (FU infusion group). At the end of study, median urine volume was 3.27 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.04–4.50] ml/kg per hour in the HA+FU infusion group and 1.33 (95% CI 0.79–1.88) ml/kg per hour in the FU infusion group (P = 0.01); the median daily sodium excretion was 58 (95% CI 30–366) mEq and 30 (95% CI 10–122) mEq (P = 0.08), respectively The changes in other variables included weight loss [HA+FU 5.2% (95% CI 3.1–8.8); FU 0.8% (95% CI −1.9 to 4.1); P = 0.006]; urine osmolality [HA+FU 315 (95% CI 220–426) mOsm/kg; FU 368 (95% CI 318–446) mOsm/kg; P = 0.13]; osmolal clearance [HA+FU 1600 (95% CI 916–4140) ml/day; FU 880 (95% CI 510–2105) ml/day; P = 0.01; free water clearance [HA+FU −190 (95% CI −960 to 280) ml/day; FU −162 (95% CI −446 to −70) ml/day; P = 0.18]. The findings from this study suggest that the co-administration of albumin and frusemide infusions is more effective than the administration of frusemide infusion alone in inducing diuresis and natriuresis in patients with nephrotic syndrome.