Influence of twenty-five per cent human serum albumin on total and ionized calcium concentrations

Background: A inverse correlation has been found between changes in ionized calcium concentrations and the addition of albumin in vitro, which may explain adverse cardiovascular effects attributed to exogenous albumin in vivo. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the interaction (if any) between exogenous 25% albumin administration (100 ml given over < 30 min) and calcium concentrations in patients, all but one of whom were in an intensive care unit.

      Results:
      There were no significant differences in the ionized calcium
			concentrations obtained before, at the end and 6 h after the administration of
			albumin (1.09 ± 0.23, 1.06 ± 0.22, 1.06 ± 0.21 mmol/l,
			respectively). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the total
			calcium concentrations between these same time periods (2.03 ± 0.18,
			2.05 ± 0.20, 2.08 ± 0.23 mmol/l, respectively).
    
    
      Conclusions:
      In patients receiving infusions of 25% albumin, it appears that
			circulating calcium concentrations are well regulated by homeostatic
			mechanisms. Albumin infusions had no effect on calcium concentrations, although
			it is possible that temporary changes of questionable clinical importance may
			have occurred between measurement periods.