Effects of a new perfluorocarbon emulsion on human plasma and whole-blood viscosity in the presence of albumin, hydroxyethyl starch, or modified fluid gelatin: an in vitro rheologic approach.
BACKGROUND
Artificial oxygen carriers such as perfluorocarbon (PFC) emulsions have reached Phase III clinical trials as alternatives to homologous blood, but their rheologic effects have not been characterized. In this study, the rheologic effects of PFC emulsion in the presence of clinically used volume expanders were investigated.


METHODS
The effects of a new PFC emulsion (small droplet size with narrow size distribution) at two PFC concentrations (4 and 8 g/dL) on plasma and whole-blood viscosity in the presence of human albumin solution (HAS), hydroxyethyl starch (HES), or modified fluid gelatin (MFG) were investigated. Three hematocrit (Hct) levels were investigated: 30, 20, and 13 percent. Plasma, PFC emulsions, and whole-blood viscosity, with a Couette viscometer, and RBC elongation, with an ektacytometer, were measured for shear rates of 0.2 to 128 per second.


RESULTS
The two PFC concentrations increased plasma and whole-blood viscosities. Viscosity values similar to physiologic ones (Hct level, 40%) were observed at: 1) Hct level of 13 percent, with 4 or 8 g per dL MFG-PFC; 2) Hct level of 20 percent, with 4 g per dL MFG-PFC; and 3) Hct level of 30 percent, with 4 g per dL HES-PFC and 4 and 8 g per dL HAS-PFC. RBC deformability was unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that this new PFC emulsion increases plasma and blood viscosity and that among the three studied volume expanders, the interaction with MFG can result in viscosity values above the physiologic one even at low Hct values. The possible consequences of the increased viscosity at low Hct values are discussed.
Jouan-Hureaux
Valérie
V
Laboratory of Hematology and Physiology, EA 3452, Faculty of Pharmacy, Henri Poincaré-Nancy 1 University, Nancy, France.
Audonnet-Blaise
Sandra
S
Lacatusu
Diana
D
Krafft
Marie-Pierre
MP
Dewachter
Pascale
P
Cauchois
Ghislaine
G
Stoltz
Jean-François
JF
Longrois
Dan
D
Menu
Patrick
P
D000418:Albumins / Q000737:chemistry*; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects*; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018056:Hemorheology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry*; D010952:Plasma Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000418:Albumins; D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives; D010952:Plasma Substitutes; C025916:modified fluid gelatins; D005780:Gelatin