Cardiothoracic & vascular anaesthesia
Postoperative 20% Albumin Infusion and Acute Kidney Injury in High-Risk Cardiac Surgery Patients: The ALBICS Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors' conclusion
In this study of cardiac surgery patients at high risk of AKI, an infusion of 20% albumin increased the risk of AKI.
Study context
- Population
- High-risk on-pump cardiac surgery patients (preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >15 and <60 mL/min/1.73 m², or combined cardiac procedure or major aortic surgery), 7 cardiac centres in Australia and Italy, 2019–2024primary analysis
- Participants
- 307 vs 304
- Comparison
- Postoperative 20% albumin infusion vs usual care
- 20% albuminn = 307
- Usual caren = 304reference
- Primary endpoint
- Stage 1-3 AKI (creatinine-based Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes definition)
Methodological detailsinvestigator-initiated, multicentre, open-label, pragmatic, stratified by site and eGFR
- Investigator-initiated
- Multicentre
- Open-label
- Pragmatic
- Stratified by site and eGFR
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Each group vs usual careEstimate (95% CI)P value
20% albumin
unadjusted RR 1.13(0.95–1.34)
P = 0.1820% albumin
strata-adjusted RR 1.12(1.04–1.21)
P = 0.003Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | Adjusted RR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AKI (subgroup eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m²) | 1.14 (1.07–1.22) | P < 0.001 | |
| 0.512Adjusted relative risk (log scale) |
Other secondary outcomes (incl. major adverse kidney events, mortality)
- No other significant differences in secondary outcomes
Safety
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Blood transfusions | P = 0.04 |
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Postoperative 20% Albumin Infusion and Acute Kidney Injury in High-Risk Cardiac Surgery Patients: The ALBICS AKI Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Surg. Published 1 August 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →