Abstract.
Objective: Impairment of haemostasis has been described with slowly degradable medium molecular weight hydroxyethyl starch (MMW-HES), whereas rapidly degradable MMW-HES is generally considered to have no important effects on blood coagulation. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of a rapidly degradable MMW-HES plasma substitute on primary haemostasis and blood coagulation in human subjects. Design: Randomised, cross-over study. Setting: Research unit of a university hospital. Participants: Nine healthy, adult male volunteers. Interventions: A 60-min intravenous infusion of 1 l HES 200/0.5/6 (HAES-steril 6%) or 4% albumin (control). Measurement and results: The infusion of HES resulted in decreased circulating levels of von Willebrand factor antigen (from 85±8% to 59±6% after HES vs from 80±7% to 69±8% after albumin, p<0.05) and ristocetin cofactor activity (from 93±4 to 67±4% after HES vs from 79±5 to 75±5% after albumin, p<0.01). This was associated with an impairment of in vitro platelet function as determined with the PFA-100 platelet function analyser (closure time with collagen/epinephrine from 120±7 to 159±14 s after HES vs from 121±7 to 137±10 s after albumin, p<0.05; with collagen/ADP from 88±3 to 116±9 s and from 103±4 to 114±7 s after HES and albumin, respectively, p=0.01). Conclusions: The infusion of 1 l of HES 200/0.5/6 in healthy human subjects results in moderately decreased plasma levels of von Willebrand factor associated with impairment of platelet function.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Final revision received: 19 April 2001
Electronic Publication
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
de Jonge, E., Levi, M., Büller, H. et al. Decreased circulating levels of von Willebrand factor after intravenous administration of a rapidly degradable hydroxyethyl starch (HES 200/0.5/6) in healthy human subjects. Intensive Care Med 27, 1825–1829 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001340101107
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001340101107