Which of the following is considered as an indication for administering serum albumin?

PGIMER Sangrur NO - 2023

Pharmacology

Easy

Appeared in: PGIMER Sangrur NO - 2023

Explanation

Albumin is the most abundant protein in blood plasma, constituting about 55-65% of total plasma proteins.
Its primary function is to maintain colloid osmotic pressure (oncotic pressure), which is the force that holds fluid within the vascular compartment.
This osmotic effect is crucial for regulating blood volume and the distribution of fluid between blood vessels and body tissues.
Therefore, administering albumin is a key intervention to restore plasma volume in conditions like shock, severe burns, and liver failure where oncotic pressure is low.

Option A: The formation of White Blood Cells (WBCs), known as leukopoiesis, is regulated by hematopoietic growth factors like colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) and interleukins, not by albumin.
Option C: The formation of Red Blood Cells (RBCs), or erythropoiesis, is primarily stimulated by the hormone erythropoietin (EPO), which is produced by the kidneys in response to hypoxia. Albumin has no role in this process.
Option D: Albumin is a transport and osmotic protein, not a clotting factor. The blood coagulation cascade involves a series of specific proteins like fibrinogen (Factor I) and prothrombin (Factor II).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Indications and Mechanism of Action of Serum Albumin as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
When administering albumin, nurses must vigilantly monitor for signs of circulatory overload, such as hypertension, tachycardia, jugular venous distension, and crackles in the lungs, as it rapidly expands plasma volume.
An allergic reaction is a potential adverse effect. The nurse should be prepared to stop the infusion immediately and manage anaphylaxis if it occurs.
What if? If the patient has a history of congestive heart failure (CHF), albumin must be administered with extreme caution and at a much slower rate. The rapid increase in intravascular volume can overwhelm the compromised heart and precipitate acute pulmonary edema.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question, which is 'serum albumin'.
Recall the primary physiological functions of albumin. It is mainly known for transport and maintaining pressure within blood vessels.
Systematically evaluate each option against the known functions of albumin.
Option A (WBC formation) and C (RBC formation) relate to hematopoiesis, which is hormonally regulated (cytokines, erythropoietin).
Option D (Clotting Factor) relates to hemostasis, which involves a separate cascade of specific proteins.
Option B (Maintenance of Oncotic Pressure) directly matches the primary and most clinically significant function of albumin, making it the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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