THE EFFECT OF HETASTARCH ON SERUM COLLOID ONCOTIC PRESSURE IN HYPOALBUMINEMIC DOGS

The purpose of this study was to determine the duration of action of a single dose of hetastarch, a synthetic colloid, in hypoalbuminemic do gs. Thirty hypoalbuminemic dogs (albumin concentration, less than or e qual to 2.0 g/dL) received 1 dose of hetastarch each, with an average dose of 18.1 mL/kg. Doses ranged from 7.7 to 43.9 mL/kg, with the majo rity of doses (n = 26) in the range of 10 to 25 mL/kg. Dogs were allot ted to one of several groups: all dogs, dogs with acute gastrointestin al protein loss. dogs with chronic gastrointestinal protein loss, all dogs with gastrointestinal protein loss, and dogs with nongastrointest inal protein loss. Colloid oncotic pressure was measured immediately b efore and immediately after hetastarch administration, and 12 hours af ter hetastarch administration. There was a significant (P < .001) incr ease in the mean colloid oncotic pressure after hetastarch treatment i n all groups, except in the group with acute gastrointestinal protein loss. Twelve hours after hetastarch treatment, the mean colloid oncoti c pressure had decreased significantly (P < .001) from the immediate p ost-treatment value in all groups, except in dogs in the groups with a cute and chronic gastrointestinal protein loss. Twelve hours after het astarch treatment the mean colloid oncotic pressure was not significan tly (P < .001) different from the baseline mean colloid oncotic pressu re in any of the groups. Twenty-three dogs (77%) survived their illnes s and were sent home, whereas, 7 (23%) died or were euthanized. The ef fect of a single dose of hetastarch on raising colloid oncotic pressur e in dogs with hypoalbuminemia decreases significantly within 12 hours of administration, and is no longer significantly above baseline valu es. We conclude that multiple dosing is necessary to prolong the benef icial effects of hetastarch.