Gremese Elisa, Bruno Dario, Varriano Valentina, Perniola Simone, Petricca Luca, Ferraccioli Gianfranco
Clinical Immunology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Roma, Italy.
Immunology Core Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy.
J Clin Med. 2023 Sep 17;12(18):6017. doi: 10.3390/jcm12186017.
Serum albumin (ALB), one of the most important proteins in human physiology, has the main functions of maintaining plasma oncotic pressure and plasma volume, transporting hormones, vitamins, oligominerals and drugs, and exerting a powerful antioxidant-anti-inflammatory role. Its prognostic value in liver and malabsorption syndromes is well known. In this narrative review, an analysis of the most important studies evaluating the prognostic significance of low serum ALB levels in hospitalized patients was performed. Specifically, the risk in emergency medicine, cardiovascular diseases, Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) infection, nephrology, oncology, and autoimmune rheumatic diseases has been examined to fully explore its clinical value. ALB is a negative acute-phase reactant and the reduction in its serum levels represents a threatening parameter for long-term survival in several clinical settings, and a strong biomarker for a poor prognosis in most diseases. Therefore, clinicians should consider serum ALB as a valuable tool to assess the efficacy of specific therapies, both in hospitalized patients and in chronic follow-up.
血清白蛋白（ALB）是人体生理学中最重要的蛋白质之一，其主要功能包括维持血浆胶体渗透压和血浆容量、运输激素、维生素、微量矿物质和药物，以及发挥强大的抗氧化和抗炎作用。其在肝脏和吸收不良综合征中的预后价值已广为人知。在这篇叙述性综述中，对评估住院患者低血清ALB水平预后意义的最重要研究进行了分析。具体而言，探讨了急诊医学、心血管疾病、冠状病毒病19（COVID-19）感染、肾脏病学、肿瘤学和自身免疫性风湿性疾病中的风险，以充分挖掘其临床价值。ALB是一种负急性期反应物，其血清水平降低在多种临床情况下是长期生存的一个威胁性参数，也是大多数疾病预后不良的一个有力生物标志物。因此，临床医生应将血清ALB视为评估特定治疗疗效的有价值工具，无论是在住院患者还是慢性随访中。
