title: Effects of pentafraction administration on microvascular permeability alterations induced by graded thermal injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pentafraction is a pentastarch derivative hypothesized to limit burn edema by "sealing" damaged capillaries, restoring a barrier to fluid translocation and macromolecular (protein) flux.
  
  
  METHODS
  Canine hind paw lymph flow (QL) and lymph (CL) and plasma (CP) protein concentrations were measured before and for 6 hours after (1) 5-second 100 degrees C (n = 6) or 80 degrees C (n = 6) foot paw scald, (2) 100 degrees C (n = 5) or 80 degrees C (n = 5) foot paw scald followed 30 minutes later by a 4 cc/kg bolus of 6% pentafraction, or (3) pentafraction infusion without scald (n = 5). Before scald or pentafraction infusion, hind paw venous pressure was elevated and maintained by outflow restriction until a steady state, minimal CL/CP was reached. The reflection coefficient, sigma d, was determined as 1-CL/CP, and the (fluid) filtration coefficient (Kf) was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scalding uniformly produced statistical (p < 0.05, ANOVA) increases in QL, CL/CP, sigma d, Kf, and paw weight gain. Postburn pentafraction infusion produced no enduring alterations in any measured parameter as compared with those of animals who received a matched severity scald without pentafraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pentafraction does not appreciably ameliorate the adverse microcirculatory consequences observed at the site of burn injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Dyess
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fish
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ardell
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Townsley
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Flint
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects*; D004285:Dogs; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000293:injuries; D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D012016:Reference Values; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives