BLOOD SUBSTITUTES UPDATE

Abstract

Oxygen carriers have long been sought for treatment of chronic and acute anemias, and rapid replacement of blood lost after trauma. During the last decade prospects for a safe and effective blood substitute have been promising, with products based on soluble hemoglobin or emulsions of perfluorocarbons currently undergoing clinical trials. Blood substitutes are not considered to be blood products, but are simply 02 carrying volume replacement solutions. They do not contain cells, antibodies, coagulation factors, or any of the other components of blood and more properly are referred to as 02 carriers. From the time of the very first blood transfusion ever performed, back in 1770, to the current situation certainly has been a long journey of discovery and achievement, and the next few years will hopefully see the first of the oxygen therapeutics reach worldwide use. The current status of development of blood substitutes is focusing on their use in relatively controlled situations such as surgical use or emergency rooms. The use of blood substitutes in these areas will make significant savings in the amount of donor blood used, relieving the burden on the blood banks. Blood substitutes will certainly command their own niche market if their use can be demonstrated in field situations such as combat mortality, ambulance use, hospitals that do not have their own blood banks, and other situations where donor blood is not readily available. It is in these situations that having a product that will effectively substitute blood in the short term will come into its own-one that requires no cross-matching of blood types and is able to be stored without special requirements.