Update on Albumin Therapy in Critical Illness.

Albumin is among the most important proteins and plays a significant role in maintenance of colloid osmotic pressure, wound healing, decreasing oxidative damage, carrying drugs and endogenous substances, and coagulation. Hypoalbuminemia is common in acute and chronic illnesses. Replenishment of albumin can be in the form of fresh frozen, frozen or cryopoor plasma, or in the form of human or canine albumin concentrates. Infusion of human albumin concentrate to healthy and critically ill dogs can induce acute and delayed hypersensitivity reactions. Death has been reported. Therefore, allogenic transfusion in the form of plasma products or canine albumin concentrate is recommended.