Abstract / Summary
Hypoalbuminemia is common in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and is associated with poor outcomes. Early administration of human albumin has been proposed to improve outcomes by expanding the intravascular volume and correcting hypoalbuminemia. We performed a systematic review to evaluate whether early albumin infusion in patients with moderate SAP reduces the incidence of sepsis and improves clinical outcomes. We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases from inception to January 15, 2026, for studies of albumin infusion in adult patients with moderate or SAP. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies that compared early albumin infusion with no albumin or crystalloid-only therapy. The primary outcome was sepsis incidence. The secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, and A.P.-related complications. Six studies (one RCT and five retrospective cohorts studies) met the inclusion criteria. Albumin infusion protocols varied (5% albumin 30 g/day for 2-3 days in the RCT). Early albumin administration was associated with a significantly lower risk of sepsis in patients with SAP. However, their effects on mortality were inconsistent. One cohort study of patients with hypoalbuminemic SAP reported significantly lower in-hospital mortality with albumin therapy. However, the RCT showed no difference in the 60-day mortality between the albumin and control groups. None of the included studies reported a clear reduction in pancreatitis-specific complications attributable to albumin. Early albumin infusion in moderate to SAP was associated with a lower risk of sepsis across studies but yielded no clear improvement in overall mortality.
Primary Source
Clinics and research in hepatology and gastroenterology
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