SERUM ALBUMIN LEVELS IN NEWLY DIAGNOSED LIVER CIRRHOSIS: A RETROSPECTIVE CLINICAL STUDY
Keywords:
cirrhosis, hypoalbuminemia, ascites, portosystemic encephalopathy, renal dysfunctionAbstract
Background and Aim: Serum albumin plays a pivotal role in maintaining oncotic pressure, immune modulation, and antioxidant defense. Hypoalbuminemia is common in liver cirrhosis and is associated with decompensation of liver function and increased mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hypoalbuminemia in newly diagnosed cirrhosis and its association with major cirrhosis-related complications. Materials and Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 361 adult patients with newly diagnosed liver cirrhosis hospitalized between 2017 and 2021. Clinical, laboratory, and imaging data from the first admission were analyzed. Hypoalbuminemia was defined as serum albumin < 35 g/L. Ascites, portosystemic encephalopathy, and renal dysfunction were assessed according to standard clinical criteria and EASL definitions. Disease severity was evaluated using Child–Pugh and MELD-Na scores. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U-, chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Hypoalbuminemia was present in 63.4% of patients and was associated with significantly higher MELD-Na scores (p < 0.001). Patients with ascites (64.5%) and portosystemic encephalopathy (47%) had significantly lower serum albumin levels compared with those without these complications (p < 0.001). Albumin levels were also significantly reduced in patients with hepatorenal syndrome, including HRS-AKI and HRS-non-AKI, compared with patients with preserved renal function. ROC analysis demonstrated good discriminative ability of serum albumin for ascites (AUC 0.757), portosystemic encephalopathy (AUC 0.745), and renal complications (AUC 0.706). Conclusion: Hypoalbuminemia is highly prevalent in newly diagnosed liver cirrhosis and is strongly associated with disease severity and major complications. Serum albumin may serve as a simple and useful biomarker for early risk stratification in cirrhotic patients.
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