[Pulsed Doppler ultrasonography to measure the vasoactive effects of hemoglobin-dextran 10-benzene-tetracarboxylate, a potential erythrocyte substitute]

The effects of Dextran-Benzene-Tetracarboxylate-Hemoglobin (Dex-BTC-Hb), a chemically-modified hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier, on the vascular tone were compared to those of standard solutions, i.e. the animal's own blood and a 50 milligrams albumin solution, by measuring the carotid blood flow velocity, the mean arterial pressure, the heart rate and respiratory frequency, in anesthetized Hartley guinea pigs after a hemorragic shock. Stroma-free hemoglobin induced 40% hypertension and a 110% rise in blood flow velocity immediately after injection. The velocity was still increased 38%, 3 hours after injection. The calculations of the vascular resistances showed an increase in carotid vascular tone. Dex-BTC-Hb brought about 35% hypertension for two hours with no significant modifications of the vascular tone. These effects are similar to those of the albumin solution. These results indicate that, unlike stroma-free hemoglobin, Dex-BTC-Hb does not significantly affect the vascular tone, probably because of its slight interaction with the factors that regulate vascular tone.