EFFECTIVENESS OF RECOMBINANT HUMAN SERUM-ALBUMIN IN THE TREATMENT OF ASCITES IN LIVER-CIRRHOSIS - EVIDENCE FROM ANIMAL-MODEL

1. To investigate the effectiveness of recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA) in the treatment of ascites in liver cirrhosis, we examined it s effect on rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver cirrhosis. 2. Twenty-five percent rHSA was administered intravenously at a dose of 0.25 to 1.0 g/kg for 2 days to rats with liver cirrhosis accompanied b y ascites retention and hypoalbuminemia. 3. rHSA dose dependently decr eased abdominal circumference, a clinical index of ascites, with signi ficant difference at a dose of 1.0 g/kg. 4. Although there was no sign ificant difference, rHSA increased blood colloid osmotic pressure (b-C OP) and urine volume (UV) in a nearly dose dependent manner, with sign ificant negative correlation between changes from baseline value in th ese parameters and in abdominal circumference. 5. These findings sugge st that rHSA has abdominal circumference-decreasing action associated with b-COP improvement and UV increase and that it could be effective as a therapeutic drug for ascites in patients with liver cirrhosis acc ompanied by hypoalbuminemia. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.