Dextran 70

From Citizendium
Revision as of 22:14, 21 December 2010 by imported>Howard C. Berkowitz
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This article is developing and not approved.
Main Article
Discussion
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

Dextran 70 is a glucose polymer used medically as a colloid, injected intravenously, to increase the plasma volume in hypovolemia. The number comes from its average molecular weight of approximately 70,000. Dextrans, which principally have 1,6-glucosidic linkages, have molecular weights ranging from 20,000 to 200,000.

Dextran is similar in application to hydroxyethyl starch, but is more antigenic. Neither has oxygen-carrying capacity, or contributes to the ability of blood to coagulate.

It is cheaper than hydroxyethyl starch and albumin injection.