Treatment with atorvastatin and albumin infusions in a patient with congenital analbuminemia

Congenital analbuminemia is a rare autosomic recessive inherited disorder characterized by low plasma albumin and hypercholesterolemia, which may increase cardiovascular risk. We report a case of congenital analbuminemia (1,0 g/dL) in a 38 yrs-old male with hypercholesterolemia (range 406-475 mg/dL) and severe arterial dysfunction (no brachial artery flow-mediated dilation). Long-term, cholesterol-lowering treatment with atorvastatin was associated with the appearance of peripheral edema. Two-months infusions of albumin improved flow-mediated dilation (7%) and reduced serum cholesterol (273 mg/dL), supporting the hypothesis of a compensatory role of hypercholesterolemia. Statin treatment, together with periodical albumin infusions, may safely contribute to decrease cardiovascular risk.