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Critical Care
Published in: Critical Care 2/2012

01-04-2012 | Review

Human albumin in the management of complications of liver cirrhosis

Authors: Mauro Bernardi, Caterina Maggioli, Giacomo Zaccherini

Published in: Critical Care | Issue 2/2012

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Excerpt

Human serum albumin is the most abundant plasma protein, representing about 50% of the total protein content (3.5-5 g/l). Albumin is a protein of 585 amino acids and molecular weight 66 kDa encoded by a gene on chromosome 4 and is exclusively synthesized by liver cells, which release it directly into the blood stream without storage. Under physiological conditions, only 20-30% of hepatocytes are committed to the production of 9-12 g of albumin per day; therefore, the liver has a large functional reserve, so that it can increase the synthesis of this protein by 3-4 times, if necessary. The production of albumin is mainly regulated by the osmolarity and oncotic pressure of interstitial fluid in the liver extravascular space, but it is also induced by hormonal factors (insulin, cortisol and growth hormone) and inhibited by acute phase cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α [1]. …
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Metadata
Title
Human albumin in the management of complications of liver cirrhosis
Authors
Mauro Bernardi
Caterina Maggioli
Giacomo Zaccherini
Publication date
01-04-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Critical Care / Issue 2/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1364-8535
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/cc11218

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