Diaspirin cross-linked haemoglobin (
DCLHb) is a new
oxygen carrying
blood substitute with vasoactive properties. Vasoactive properties may be mediated via high affinity binding of
nitric oxide by the
haem moiety. Using a rodent model of
head injury combined with ischaemia, we studied the effects of
DCLHb on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and intracranial pressure (ICP). Twenty anaesthetized rats were allocated randomly to receive treatment with
DCLHb 400 mg kg-1 i.v. or placebo (oncotically matched
plasma protein substitute 4.5% i.v.). To produce diffusely increased ICP, after a severe weight drop injury, all animals underwent a 30-min period of bilateral carotid
ligation combined with a period of
induced hypotension. After reperfusion,
DCLHb or placebo was infused and the animals instrumented for measurement of intraventricular ICP and CBF in the region of the sensorimotor cortex using the
hydrogen clearance technique. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), ICP, cerebral perfusion pressure (
CPP) (
CPP = MAP - ICP) and CBF were measured 4 h after injury in all animals.
DCLHb significantly reduced ICP from mean 13 (SEM 2) to 3 (1) mm Hg (P < 0.001), increased
CPP from 52 (8) to 95 (6) mm Hg (P < 0.001) and increased CBF from 21 (2) to 29 (2) ml 100 g-1 min-1 (P = 0.032). We conclude that
DCLHb improved
CPP without a reduction in CBF in a rodent model of post-traumatic
brain swelling.