Ongoing Clinical Trials for Hypoalbuminaemia
Currently, there is 1 ongoing clinical trial investigating hypoalbuminaemia, focusing on how low albumin levels affect antibiotic treatment in patients undergoing heart surgery. This trial is being conducted in Austria and explores the use of albumin infusion to optimize medication effectiveness during cardiac procedures.
Clinical trial locations
Study on How Albumin Levels Affect Cefazolin in Heart Disease Patients with Low Albumin Undergoing Cardiac Surgery
This trial is investigating how albumin levels in the blood affect the way the body processes cefazolin, an antibiotic commonly used to prevent infections during surgery. The study is particularly important for patients with heart disease who have low albumin levels and are scheduled for cardiac surgery.
Who can participate:
- Adults between 18 and 90 years of age
- Patients scheduled for heart surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass, which is a machine that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs during the operation
- People with an ejection fraction greater than 40%, meaning their heart is pumping blood reasonably well
- Those willing to provide written informed consent after understanding the study details
Who cannot participate:
- Individuals with certain forms of heart disease as specified by the study
- People already diagnosed with low albumin levels in the blood
What the trial involves:
Participants will be randomly divided into two groups. One group will receive an infusion of Human Albumin at a 20% concentration through a vein, while the other group will serve as a control. Both groups will receive cefazolin, the antibiotic being studied, administered intravenously at a dose of 2 grams.
The research team will carefully monitor how the body processes the antibiotic by measuring drug levels in the blood over a 10-hour period. This monitoring helps scientists understand whether albumin levels influence how effectively the antibiotic works in preventing infections during and after surgery.
Investigational drug:
The primary medication being studied is cefazolin, a cephalosporin antibiotic that works by interfering with bacterial cell wall formation, leading to bacterial death. The trial examines how albumin supplementation might change the way this antibiotic is distributed and processed in the body, potentially leading to better treatment outcomes for patients with low albumin levels undergoing heart surgery.
Summary
With only one trial currently active for this condition, research opportunities for patients with low albumin levels remain limited. This Austrian study represents an important step in understanding how protein levels in the blood affect antibiotic treatment during major surgery. The focus on cefazolin, a widely used surgical antibiotic, could have practical implications for improving infection prevention strategies in patients with both heart disease and low albumin levels. The findings may help doctors better tailor antibiotic dosing for patients undergoing cardiac surgery who have nutritional or liver-related protein deficiencies.