Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Effects of Albumin Administration in Septic Cirrhotic Patients With Child > 8 Unrelated to Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis on Renal Function and Survival: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Use and Non-use of Human Albumin (Vialebex ®)
Brief Summary: Patients with cirrhosis present an increased susceptibility to bacterial infections. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is the most frequent infection and induces severe circulatory dysfunction associated with renal failure in about 30% of cases. Renal failure is a reliable surrogate marker of in-hospital mortality in patients with SBP or with non-SBP infections. Albumin, as an adjuvant to antibiotherapy reduces significantly the rate of renal failure, in-hospital mortality, and overall mortality (Sort P, et al. NEJM 1999). However, little is known regarding the effect of albumin administration in patients with non-SBP infections. Two recent prospective studies demonstrated that non-SBP infections are associated with impairment of the effective circulating volume and precipitate renal failure whatever the presence of ascites.

The aim of this randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the effects of albumin, associated with appropriate antibiotic therapy, on occurrence or deterioration of renal failure and survival in septic (SIRS criteria required) cirrhotic patients with non-SBP infections and presenting with a Child-Pugh score \> 8.


Options:
A: Inclusion criteria

* Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis (based on clinical, laboratory, endoscopic and ultrasonographic features) and uncomplicated ascites according to the criteria of the International Ascites Club (1).
* Ongoing diuretic treatment with an anti-mineralocorticoid drug at a dose of 200 mg/day and furosemide of 25 mg/day, stable for at least 4 days prior enrollment, not inducing response (defined according to the criteria of the International Ascites Club as body weight reduction ≥ 800 grams in the 4 days prior enrollment). With this limitation, we aim to identify a fairly homogeneous population with a relatively advanced stage of the disease that will likely have more benefit from albumin administration, as also suggested by Gentilini at al. (17).
* Ongoing diuretic treatment with an anti-mineralocorticoid drug at a dose \> 200 mg/day and furosemide \> 25mg/day, independent of response to treatment.
* EGDS performed in the last 12 months, abdominal ultrasonography performed in the last 30 days, and laboratory tests required by the protocol in the last 7 days.

Exclusion criteria

* Age lower than 18 years
* No written informed consent
* Inability to follow written consent
* Established diagnosis of refractory ascites, as defined by the IAC (1)
* Need of 2 or more paracentesis during the last month
* Serum creatinine \> 1.5 mg/dl
* Organic nephropathy, as defined by the IAC (1)
* Hepatorenal syndrome type 1 in the last 15 days
* Gastrointestinal bleeding in the last 15 days
* Ongoing endoscopic eradication after a recent gastro-esophageal variceal bleeding
* Bacterial or fungal infection, including spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, in the last 7 days
* Hepatic encephalopathy grade III/IV
* Budd-Chiari Syndrome
* Patients with TIPS or other surgical porto-caval shunts
* Known and suspected active hepatocellular carcinoma or other malignancies
* Previous liver transplantation
* Ongoing alcohol abuse (patients should be abstinent for at least three months)
* Antiviral therapy for hepatitis B started in the last 6 months
* Heart failure
* Respiratory failure as defined as PO2 \<60 mmHg
* Known or suspected hypersensitivity to albumin
* Previous albumin administration given for the treatment of ascites in the last 30 days
* Patients enrolled in other clinical study for the treatment of ascites
* Use of experimental drugs for the last 2 months prior the inclusion in the present study
* Pregnancy and breast-feeding
* Females of child-bearing potential are excluded unless they meet one of the following criteria:

  * Post-menopausal for 6 months or more, and if post-menopausal for less than 2 years, a negative pregnancy test
  * Surgical sterilisation for more than one month duration and a negative pregnancy test
  * Intrauterine device in combination with a secondary barrier (e.g. diaphragm, condom or spermicide) and a negative pregnancy test
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Cirrhosis and ascites submitted to paracentesis \> 5 liters
* Age: 18-75 years
* Informed written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Multinodular HCC (\> 3 nodules)
* Portal vein thrombosis
* Ongoing bacterial infection
* Ongoing or recent (less than one week) bleeding
* Cardio-pulmonary failure
* Hepatorenal syndrome type 1
* Severe coagulopathy: platelets \< 30.000/mm3 and/or PT \< 30%
* Ongoing treatment with vasoactive drugs
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Cirrhosis defined by clinical, laboratory or ultrasonographic findings
* Child-Pugh \> 8
* Sepsis defined by the presence of proved or suspected infection with two of the four SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome) criteria (Wong F, et al. Sepsis in cirrhosis: report on the 7th meeting of the international ascites club. Gut 2005)
* Creatinine \< 160 µmol/L
* Written informed consent
* Absence of the exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

* Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
* Difficult to treat infections such as : endocarditis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis
* Heart insufficiency (YHA III-IV)
* Digestive bleeding during the week preceding the study
* Septic shock
* Hepatocellular carcinoma : stage D
* Use of antibiotics during the week preceding the study, except noroxin used for long-term antibioprophylaxy
* Diseases which can influence the short term survival
D: Inclusion Criteria:

All adult patients who

* Undergo resuscitation in the ICU
* AND fulfillment within the previous 24 hours of the criteria for severe sepsis (SCCM/ACCP)
* AND consent is obtainable either from the patient or by proxy (physician and/or next of kin)

Exclusion Criteria:

The following patients will not be evaluated for inclusion:

* Age \< 18 years old
* Previously randomised in the 6S trial
* Allergy towards hydroxyethyl starch or malic acid
* Treatment with \> 1000 ml's of any synthetic colloid within the last 24 hours prior to randomisation
* Any form of renal replacement therapy
* Acute burn injury \> 10% body surface area
* Severe hyperkalaemia, p-K \> 6 mM
* Liver or kidney transplantation during current hospital admission
* Intracranial bleeding within current hospitalisation
* Enrollment into another ICU trial of drugs with potential action on circulation, renal function or coagulation
* Withdrawal of active therapy

Answer: C