Hypoalbuminemia contributes to ascites formation via sodium and water retention: Evidence from clinical date and albumin deficient mice

Abstract

Albumin infusions improve circulatory and renal function in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. However, there is no convincing evidence that hypoalbuminemia contributes to ascites formation in liver cirrhosis. The aim of our study is to determine the exact role of hypoalbuminemia in the formation of ascites caused by liver cirrhosis and its underlying mechanism. Clinical profiles of patients with liver cirrhosis retrospectively analyzed. The details of albumin involved in ascites formation were investigated in rat model and murine model. Statistical analysis demonstrated hypoalbuminemia was an independent risk factor for ascites formation in patients with liver cirrhosis (OR = 0.722, P < 0.001). In carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced rat model of liver cirrhosis, a significant reduction in serum albumin was observed in rats with ascites (13.37 g/L) compared with rats without ascites (21.43 g/L, P < 0.001). In thioacetamide (TAA)-treated mice, ascites amount of heterozygous albumin (Alb+/−) mice (112.0 mg) was larger than that of wild-type (Alb+/+) mice (58.46 mg, P < 0.001). In CCl4-induced chronic liver injury, ascites amounts of Alb+/− or Alb+/+ mice were 80.00 mg or 48.46 mg (P = 0.001). Further study demonstrated 24-h urinary sodium excretion in Alb+/− mice was lower than that of Alb+/+ mice in TAA/CCl4-induce murine models of liver cirrhosis. Additionally, serum sodium concentration of Alb+/− mice was lower than that of Alb+/+ mice. In cirrhotic mice, higher level of antidiuretic hormone was observed in Alb+/− mice compared with the control; and renal aquaporin (AQP2) expression in Alb+/− mice was significantly higher than that of WT mice. These revealed hypoalbuminemia contributed to the occurrence of ascites in liver cirrhosis through sodium and water retention.