title: Oxygen carriers ("blood substitutes").
abstract: (1) A number of oxygen carriers, or "blood substitutes", are undergoing clinical trials. One product (Hemopure(R)) was recently licensed for use in South Africa. Another, (Hemolink(tm) may soon be approved for marketing in Canada. (2) Most trials of oxygen carriers have focused on their use in surgery, primarily as a way to minimize the need for allogeneic blood transfusion. (3) The benefits of these products in comparison with other blood conservation technologies and with allogeneic blood transfusion must be determined. (4) The safety and cost-effectiveness of these products, and the patient populations that would benefit most from their use require further study.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Topfer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hailey
mesh_terms: D001802:Blood Substitutes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002170:Canada; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017277:Drug Approval; D016527:Drug Costs; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011887:Raffinose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics; D013019:South Africa; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical
chemical_list: D001802:Blood Substitutes; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011887:Raffinose