What to do if albumin is always low in chronic liver disease

  In liver disease, especially in severe liver disease, the blood albumin level gradually decreases and globulin increases, and the ratio of albumin to globulin is inverted. Albumin is synthesized by liver cells, so a decrease in albumin indicates a decrease in the liver’s ability to synthesize it, but edema, insufficient intake of raw materials for synthesizing albumin, increased breakdown of albumin due to fever and infection, and loss of albumin due to kidney disease can also cause a decrease in albumin.  When albumin falls below 30g/liter, ascites and swelling will occur, requiring albumin input and diuresis for treatment. Generally, half of the intravenous albumin can exist in the body for about 3 weeks, but clinically, many patients’ albumin drops again after only one week or even two or three days. How can we keep the albumin stable and promote the synthesis of albumin by the liver itself without relying on external input? This is difficult to achieve, but there must be a way to make it work.  1, actively treat the original disease: if it is caused by the hepatitis B virus, you should actively control the virus, and if it is alcoholic, you must strictly abstain from alcohol. If it is a blockage of blood vessels around the liver, the blood vessels should be opened up through interventional treatment. If it is immunogenic, the primary disease should also be controlled.  2.Supplement the liver with raw materials for synthesizing albumin: foods rich in protein and amino acids, such as broth, chicken soup, yogurt, skim milk powder, complex protein granules, etc. Generally, on the basis of three meals a day, additional meals are taken in the morning, afternoon and evening, and the amount is based on the amount that can be digested and absorbed, no abdominal distension and no hepatic encephalopathy.  3.Promote liver cell regeneration and protein synthesis: Research shows that adequate amounts of adenosine, folic acid, amino acids, etc. can promote the regeneration of liver cells.  4.Give enough energy: Research shows that if the daily food is too little and the calories are not enough, not cellular synthesis of protein will be reduced, that is, the protein infused will be rapidly converted into glucose and decomposed. Therefore, some patients who enter albumin quickly decline because of insufficient calories, albumin is converted into glucose is broken down.  5, transfusion of albumin: the main role of albumin is to increase the blood colloid osmotic pressure, prevent or reduce the extravasation of intravascular fluid into the extravascular and abdominal cavity, to help adequate swelling and ascites, pleural fluid. However, albumin is a blood product, which is not only expensive, but also has some safety risks when applied frequently.  In conclusion, the treatment strategy for hypoproteinemia in liver disease is: etiological treatment is the key, nutritional support is the foundation, and intravenous albumin input is the supplement, and all three need to be combined organically.