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

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Abstract

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India

    Rajmohan Dharmaraj, Pankaj Hari & Arvind Bagga

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  1. Rajmohan Dharmaraj
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  2. Pankaj Hari
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  3. Arvind Bagga
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Correspondence to Pankaj Hari.

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Dharmaraj, R., Hari, P. & Bagga, A. Randomized cross-over trial comparing albumin and frusemide infusions in nephrotic syndrome. Pediatr Nephrol 24, 775–782 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-008-1062-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-008-1062-0

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