24-hour performance of albumin dialysis assessed by a new two-compartment in vitro model.

Extracorporeal albumin dialysis as a measure to remove water soluble and protein bound toxins simultaneously has been shown to improve complications of liver failure. However, recent research suggests that only treatments associated with a measurable improvement of patient's albumin binding function by effective removal of albumin bound toxins leads to better survival. The aim of the present work was to develop a test platform for upcoming devices to evaluate long term effectiveness on toxin removal and improvement of patients' albumin binding capacity.

Industrial stabilizers caprylate and N-acetyltryptophanate reduce the efficacy of albumin in liver patients.

Liver failure is associated with an accumulation of toxic molecules that exert an affinity to albumin. Some of them have vasoactive activity. So far, albumin has been used as a plasma expander to improve the available circulating blood volume.