Comparison of Diuretic Effect With Furosemide Alone Versus the Combination of Furosemide and Albumin in Cirrhotic Patients

• Status: Recruiting
• Trial end date: 2025-12-31
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

A common complication of the progression of cirrhosis is fluid retention (ascites, edema, or pleural effusion). Loop diuretics are the treatment of choice for fluid retention in cirrhotic patients; however, many of these patients demonstrate diuretic resistance, requiring higher doses of the diuretics to achieve adequate diuresis. The cause of this diuretic resistance is hypothesized to be secondary to hypoalbuminemia which has led some providers to give human albumin in combination with loop diuretics to increase intravascular volume and facilitate diuresis. However, this practice remains controversial because minimal data exists to support its efficacy. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of diuretics alone versus diuretics in combination with albumin in cirrhotic patients presenting with fluid retention.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Rush University Medical Center
• Treatments: Diuretics; Furosemide

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients (age >18 years old)

• Diagnosis of cirrhosis

• Presents with fluid retention as defined as ascites, edema, or pulmonary effusions requiring diuresis.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who are younger than 18 years of age

• Patients who are currently pregnant

• Patients who present with a serum creatinine greater than 2 mg/dL