USE OF ALBUMIN IN 2 SPANISH UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS

Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterize the use of seral bumin, evaluating how appropriate its prescription is and what possibl e economic repercussions may result from inappropriate use. Methods: W e performed a prospective study that included all patients receiving a lbumin in two University Hospitals from October 1995 to March 1996. Th e reasons for albumin use were considered appropriate if they coincide d with the recommendations of a panel of experts. Results: During the study period, 197 patients received albumin and a total of 3208 50-ml vials (20%) were used. The internal medicine and gastroenterology serv ices prescribed this drug the most often. The most frequent prescripti on motives were paracentesis in cirrhotic patients (25.9%), hypoalbumi nemia (24.9%) and chronic handling of cirrhotic patients (18.6%). Only 16 prescriptions (8.1%) (corresponding to 315 vials, 9.8%) were consi dered appropriate. One cause of inappropriate prescribing was that col loid solutions had not previously been used in 56 (30.9%) of the 186 i nappropriate prescriptions. During the study period, 74 306 ECUs were spent on inappropriate indications. Conclusions: The use of albumin in our centers is incorrect and has important economic repercussions. So me educational and informative measures must be established to change this situation.