Year: 2020
Type: review
Abstract: The pathophysiological background of decompensated cirrhosis is characterised by a systemic proinflammatory and pro-oxidant milieu that plays a major role in the development of multiorgan dysfunction. Such abnormality is mainly due to the systemic spread of bacteria and/or bacterial products from the gut and danger-associated molecular patterns from the diseased liver triggering the release of proinflammatory mediators by activating immune cells. The exacerbation of these processes underlies the development of acute-on-chronic liver failure. A further mechanism promoting multiorgan dysfunction and failure likely consists with a mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation dysfunction responsible for systemic cellular energy crisis. The systemic proinflammatory and pro-oxidant state of patients with decompensated cirrhosis is also responsible for structural and functional changes in the albumin molecule, which spoil its pleiotropic non-oncotic properties such as antioxidant, scavenging, immune-modulating and endothelium protective functions. The knowledge of these abnormalities provides novel targets for mechanistic treatments. In this respect, the oncotic and non-oncotic properties of albumin make it a potential multitarget agent. This would expand the well-established indications to the use of albumin in decompensated cirrhosis, which mainly aim at improving effective volaemia or preventing its deterioration. Evidence has been recently provided that long-term albumin administration to patients with cirrhosis and ascites improves survival, prevents complications, eases the management of ascites and reduces hospitalisations. However, variant results indicate that further investigations are needed, aiming at confirming the beneficial effects of albumin, clarifying its optimal dosage and administration schedule and identify patients who would benefit most from long-term albumin administration.
Source: Gut
Institutions: IRCCS Azienda Ospedliero-Universitaria di Bologna Policlinico di Sant'Orsola, University of Bologna, University of Padua, European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Consorci Institut D'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi I Sunyer, Universitat de Barcelona, Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Hôpital Beaujon, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation, The Royal Free Hospital, University College London, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Goethe University Frankfurt, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon
Language: English
Subfield: Hepatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W3007189276