Hypoalbuminemia in patients receiving cisplatin: correlation between liver platinum and decrease in serum albumin.

We evaluated changes in serum albumin concentrations in 15 patients with advanced malignancy who were also receiving cisplatin. All 15 patients had serial measurements of serum albumin. The decrease in serum albumin from the time of the first dose of cisplatin to death correlated with liver platinum levels at autopsy (r = 0.46, p less than 0.05). The decrease in serum albumin concentration associated with liver platinum concentration of less than or equal to 1.5 micrograms/g was 0.16 +/- 0.23 g/dl (range 0-0.6). The decrease associated with liver platinum concentrations of greater than 1.5 micrograms/g was 1.0 +/- 0.45 g/dl (range 0.5-1.9; p less than 0.02). The decrease in serum albumin may be secondary to a hepatotoxic effect of cisplatin.