Randomized double-blind studies of polysaccharide gel compared with glue and other agents for hemostasis of large veins and bleeding canine esophageal or gastric varices.
BACKGROUND
The safety and efficacy of poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (p-GlcNAc) gels were compared with standard agents in three different dog studies to assess abdominal venous collaterals, bleeding esophageal varices, and bleeding gastric varices.


METHODS
Adult dogs with prehepatic portal hypertension and large abdominal venous collaterals, esophageal varices, or gastric varices were studied.


RESULTS
Significantly higher sclerosis rates were seen with F2 or F4 p-GlcNAc gels and standard sclerosants. F2 and F4 gels had high rates of permanent hemostasis, low rates of secondary ulceration, and significant reductions in esophageal and gastric variceal size. These results were either equivalent to or significantly better than the most commonly used gastric varix hemostatic agent (glue) or other sclerosing agents.


CONCLUSIONS
F2 and F4 poly-N-acetyl glucosamine gels are promising therapeutic agents for venous and variceal hemostasis.
University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, CURE Digestive Disease Research Center, and the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 90073-1003, USA. djensen@mednet.ucla.edu
Dennis M
DM
Jensen
Gustavo A
GA
Machicado
Ken
K
Hirabayashi
D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000438:Alcohols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004659:Enbucrilate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005773:Gastroscopy; D005782:Gels; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques / Q000592:standards; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D012976:Sodium Morrhuate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D000438:Alcohols; D005782:Gels; D006490:Hemostatics; D009829:Oleic Acids; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; C113831:poly-N-acetyl glucosamine; D012976:Sodium Morrhuate; D004659:Enbucrilate; C033343:ethanolamine oleate; D000117:Acetylglucosamine