Against the background of plausible potential biomechanisms in sepsis [30] and the possible beneficial effect of IV albumin use in the SAFE study on a predefined subgroup of patients with sepsis [43], the ‘Albumin Replacement in Patients with Severe Sepsis or Septic Shock’ (ALBIOS) study investigated whether a systematic correction of decreased serum albumin levels with the use of IV 20% albumin affects the survival of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock [44]. This evidence concerns the gene ALB and septic shock.