the evaluation of albumin utilization in a teaching university hospital in iran

the goal of this study was to evaluate the pattern and the suitability of the human albumin usage according to the available and reliable guidelines. a concurrent, cross-sectional study was performed in shariati hospital (associated with tehran university of medical sciences, tehran, iran). all inpatient adults that were prescribed albumin during the study period were evaluated to register the indications for albumin usage and specific patient information. the total 1281 vials of albumin were prescribed for 135 patients during the study period. the most common reasons to prescribe albumin were volume expansion after the heart surgery (53.3%), nutrition source in malnourished patients (19.3%), paracentesis (12.9%), plasmapheresis (9.6%), hypoalbuminemia (3%) and the others (2.1%). only 411 vials (32.1%) prescribed with 34 prescriptions (25.2%) were utilized appropriately based on the guidelines. the results showed that based on the guidelines, the most prescriptions of albumin in this hospital have not been written appropriately. therefore, educational programs on using guidelines may help reduce albumin usage and treatment costs.