Five percent albumin for adult burn shock resuscitation: lack of effect on daily multiple organ dysfunction score

BACKGROUND: The effect of 5 percent human albumin on multiple organ dysfunction was investigated during the first 14 days of treatment to determine whether albumin resuscitation might benefit adult burn patients. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Multicenter unblinded controlled trial with stratified block (two patients per block) randomization by center and mortality prediction at enrollment (high-risk stratum [predicted mortality, 50%-90%] and low-risk stratum [predicted mortality, < 50%]). The primary outcome was the worst multiple organ dysfunction score (MODS), excluding the cardiovascular component, to Day 14. Eligible adults (> 15 years) suffering from thermal injury not more than 12 hours before enrollment received fluid resuscitation with Ringer's lactate (n = 23) or 5 percent human albumin plus Ringer's lactate (n = 19) by protocol to achieve recommended (American Burn Association) resuscitation endpoints. RESULTS: Forty-two patients were randomly assigned. There were no significant differences (median [95% confidence intervals]) in age (36 [24-45] vs. 31 [25-39] years), burn size (39 [32-53] vs. 32 [26-34] total body surface area percentage), inhalation injury (n = 12/19 vs. n = 11/23), or baseline MODS (3 [1-5] vs. 1.5 [0-2]) between the treatment and control groups. In an intention-to-treat analysis, there was no significant difference between the treatment and control group in the lowest MODS from Day 0 to Day 14 (analysis of covariance, p = 0.73). CONCLUSION: Treatment with 5 percent albumin from Day 0 to Day 14 does not decrease the burden of MODS in adult burn patients.