Fluosol: therapeutic failure in severe anemia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To report the use of Fluosol in the management of a severe anemia and to review the literature regarding the use of Fluosol.

CASE REPORT:

A 40-year-old woman, at 40.5 weeks gestation, was admitted for induction of labor. Her hospital course was complicated by a postpartum hemorrhage and severe anemia. Because the patient was a Jehovah's Witness, she received non-blood products including hetastarch, iron dextran, and erythropoietin, and a total of 33 mL/kg of Fluosol, but she did not survive.

DISCUSSION:

Fluosol is an oxygen-carrying, perfluorochemical blood substitute. It was administered to our patient, who presented with the lowest hemoglobin (Hb) (11 g/L) and hematocrit (0.31 fraction of 1.00) of all reported cases. Almost all patients with an Hb < 20 g/L do not survive.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although the use of Fluosol as a blood substitute appears theoretically promising, its use in the management of severe anemia cannot be recommended.

• Authors: P B Kale, G E Sklar, L A Wesolowicz, R E DiLisio
• Journal: The Annals of pharmacotherapy (Ann Pharmacother) Vol. 27 Issue 12 Pg. 1452-4 (Dec 1993) ISSN: 1060-0280 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8305774 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Blood Substitutes
• Fluorocarbons
• fluosol

Topics

• Adult
• Anemia (drug therapy, etiology)
• Blood Substitutes (therapeutic use)
• Christianity
• Female
• Fluorocarbons (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Postpartum Hemorrhage (complications)
• Pregnancy
• Treatment Refusal