RESUSCITATION WITH DIASPIRIN CROSS-LINKED HEMOGLOBIN INCREASES CEREBRAL AND RENAL BLOOD PERFUSION IN HEMORRHAGED RATS

Diaspirin crosslinked hemoglobin (DCLHb(TM) Baxter Healthcare Corp., R ound Lake, IL, USA), a hemoglobin-based blood substitute has been foun d to be an effective resucitative agent following hemorrhage in animal s. The present study was undertaker, to determine the effect of DCLHb on microvascular perfusion in the brain and kidney following hemorrhag e in anaesthetized, male Sprague Dawley rats using laser Doppler flowm etry. Hemorrhage was induced by withdrawal of arterial blood at a rate of 0.5 to 1.0 ml/min until blood pressure of 35-40 mmHg was achieved. This was maintained for up to 30 min. The arterial blood pH, pO(2), p CO(2) and total hemoglobin (THb) were monitored. Hemorrhage significan tly decreased pH, pCO(2) and THb and increased pO. Hemorrhage signific antly decreased (26%) brain blood perfusion due to a decrease (17%) in the concentration of moving red blood cells (CMBC). In the kidney the re was a greater decrease (65%) in blood perfusion due to a significan t decrease in both CMBC (28%) and red blood cell velocity (49%). Resus citation with vehicle (Ringer's lactate, 4 ml/kg, i.v.) did not produc e any improvement in cerebral and renal blood perfusion. Resuscitation with DCLHb (400 mg/kg, i.v.) improved perfusion in the brain (112%) d ue to an increase in the CMBC (69%) and the velocity of red blood cell s (33%). Similarly, in the kidney, DCLHb increased perfusion (178%) by increasing CMBC (55%) and red blood cell velocity (89%) of hemorrhage d rats. The increase in renal blood perfusion was more marked (p < 0.0 01) than the changes in cerebral blood perfusion following resuscitati on with DCLHb in hemorrhaged rats. It is concluded that DCLHb can sign ificantly increase cerebral and renal blood perfusion of hemorrhaged r ats and this effect may contribute to its efficacy as a resuscitative solution.