Clinical Applications
The following examples give a brief presentation of clinical and pharmaceutical applications of Dextrans.
Clinical applications of Dextrans
Clinical grade Dextrans are available as Dextran 1, Dextran 40, Dextran 60, and Dextran 70.
Dextran 40, Dextran 60, and Dextran 70 solutions for injection are commonly used in clinical practice for:
- Replacement of blood loss
- Plasma substitution
- Thrombosis prophylaxis
- Volume expansion
- Rheological improvement
Administration of Dextran 1 prior to injection of Dextran 40, Dextran 60, and Dextran 70 is known to reduce the incidences of undesired adverse reactions significantly. Clinical grade Dextrans are thus possibly the safest plasma substitute in clinical use.
Pharmaceutical Quality Dextran
Pharmaceutical quality Dextran from Pharmacosmos is in all aspects analogous with the Pharmacopoeia products Dextran 1, 40, 60 and 70 - only the molecular weight is different. Due to superior product purity compared with technical grade Dextrans, the use of pharmaceutical quality Dextran products is generally indicated for:
- Cryopreservation
- Solutions for storing organs for transplantation
- Carrier for vaccines
- Component in implants