AlbuRx Mechanism of Action

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Plasma substitutes and plasma protein fractions. ATC code: B05AA01.
Albumin accounts quantitatively for more than 50% of the total protein in the plasma and represents about 10% of the protein synthesis activity of the liver.
Pharmacodynamics: Mechanism of action: The most important physiological functions of albumin results from its contribution to oncotic pressure of the blood and its transport function. Albumin stabilizes circulating blood volume and is a carrier of hormones, enzymes, drugs, and toxins.
Pharmacokinetics: Distribution: Under normal conditions, the total exchangeable albumin pool is 4-5 g/kg body weight, of which 40-45% is present intravascularly and 55-60% in the extravascular space. Increased capillary permeability alters albumin kinetics. Abnormal distribution can occur under pathological conditions, e.g. after severe burns and in septic shock.
Elimination: Under normal conditions, the average half-life of albumin is about 19 days. The balance between synthesis and breakdown is normally achieved by a feedback mechanism. Elimination is predominantly intracellular and due to lysosomal proteases.
In healthy subjects, less than 10% of infused albumin leaves the intravascular compartment during the first 2 hours following infusion. There is considerable individual variation in the effect on plasma volume. In some patients the plasma volume remains increased for several hours. However, in critically ill patients, albumin can leak out of the vascular system in substantial amounts at an unpredictable rate.
Toxicology: Preclinical data: Human albumin is a normal constituent of human plasma and its action does not differ from that of physiological albumin.
Single dose toxicity testing in animals is of little relevance and does not permit the evaluation of toxic or lethal doses or of a dose-effect relationship. It is not possible to carry out repeated dose toxicity testing in animals due to the development of antibodies to heterologous proteins.
To date, human albumin has not been reported to be associated with embryo-fetal toxicity, mutagenic, or carcinogenic potential. No signs of acute toxicity have been described in animal models.