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Dextran Brand Names- Gentran-40 | Gentran-70
What is Dextran
Dextran is a branched polysaccharide used intravenously as a plasma volume expander. It is formed by a bacterium, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, which contributes to its antigenicity; however, due to improved preparation techniques, the incidence of hypersensitivity reactions is reduced.
Dextran is available in various molecular weights, and these products exhibit different osmotic and pharmacologic properties.
Dextran 40 contains molecules of molecular weight (MW) 40,000 daltons while dextran 70 contains molecules of 70,000 daltons. Both types of products contain molecules of varying molecular weights, some lower and some higher than the stated label.
Dextran is used clinically as an adjunct in the management or prevention of shock caused by hemorrhage, burns, surgery, or trauma, and in the prophylaxis of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing surgery that carries a high risk of thromboembolic complications (e.g., hip surgery). Dextran was first approved in 1951 as a 6% solution.
Dextran 70/75 was approved by the FDA in 1953 and Dextran 40 in 1967.
Indications
- deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis
- hypovolemia
- pulmonary embolism prophylaxis
Side Effects
- anaphylactic shock
- anaphylactoid reactions
- cardiac arrest
- fever
- hypervolemia
- hypotension
- infection
- injection site reaction
- nasal congestion
- nausea
- phlebitis
- platelet dysfunction
- prolonged bleeding time
- renal failure (unspecified)
- urticaria
- vomiting
- wheezing
Monitoring Parameters
- laboratory monitoring not necessary
Contraindications
- breast-feeding
- coagulopathy
- dehydration
- heart failure
- hypofibrinogenemia
- intramuscular injections
- pregnancy
- pulmonary edema
- renal disease
- renal failure
- sodium restriction
- surgery
- thrombocytopenia
Interactions
- Anticoagulants
- Azelastine; Fluticasone
- Beclomethasone
- Betamethasone
- Budesonide
- Budesonide; Formoterol
- Ciclesonide
- Corticosteroids
- Corticotropin, ACTH
- Cortisone
- Deflazacort
- Dexamethasone
- Fludrocortisone
- Flunisolide
- Fluticasone
- Fluticasone; Salmeterol
- Fluticasone; Umeclidinium; Vilanterol
- Fluticasone; Vilanterol
- Formoterol; Mometasone
- Hydrocortisone
- Lithium
- Methylprednisolone
- Mometasone
- Prednisolone
- Prednisone
- Tolvaptan
- Triamcinolone
