Fluosol
Encyclopedia
Fluosol is an artificial blood substitute which is milky in color. Its main ingredients are perfluorodecalin
or perfluorotributylamine in Fluosol-DA and Fluosol-43 respectively, perfluorochemicals suspended in an albumin emulsion. It was developed in Japan
and first tested in the United States
in 1982, its recipients being individuals who refused blood transfusions on religious grounds. Fluosol serves as a dissolving medium for oxygen
. In order to "load" sufficient amounts of oxygen into it, patients must breathe pure oxygen by mask or must be in a hyperbaric chamber. While initially promising for therapy of heart attack
, carbon monoxide poisoning
, and sickle-cell anemia, research also indicates that Fluosol may depress the patient's immune system
.
Given its low viscosity http://www.theannals.com/cgi/content/abstract/24/11/1105 it could be used in cases of stenosis
Fluosol is the only blood substitute approved to date by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for medical use in the circulatory system (NDA N860909, 1989). The FDA and eight other countries approved Fluosol not for the use of reducing the amount of allogenic blood units transfused but for use during cardiac angioplasty. This procedure was noted to reduce the mycoardial oxygenation leading to ST segment elevation on ECGs, angina, and reduced ejection fraction. Use of Fluosol reduced these symptoms and allowed for longer cardiac antiplasty times. From 1989 to 1992, Fluosol was used in more than 40,000 human subjects. Due to difficulty with the emulsion storage of Fluosol use (frozen storage and rewarming), its popularity declined and its production ended.
Perfluorodecalin
Perfluorodecalin is a fluorocarbon, a derivative of decalin in which all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine atoms. It is chemically and biologically inert, and stable up to 400°C. Several applications make use of its ability to dissolve gases....
or perfluorotributylamine in Fluosol-DA and Fluosol-43 respectively, perfluorochemicals suspended in an albumin emulsion. It was developed in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and first tested in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1982, its recipients being individuals who refused blood transfusions on religious grounds. Fluosol serves as a dissolving medium for oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
. In order to "load" sufficient amounts of oxygen into it, patients must breathe pure oxygen by mask or must be in a hyperbaric chamber. While initially promising for therapy of heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs after enough inhalation of carbon monoxide . Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas, but, being colorless, odorless, tasteless, and initially non-irritating, it is very difficult for people to detect...
, and sickle-cell anemia, research also indicates that Fluosol may depress the patient's immune system
Immune system
An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own...
.
Given its low viscosity http://www.theannals.com/cgi/content/abstract/24/11/1105 it could be used in cases of stenosis
Stenosis
A stenosis is an abnormal narrowing in a blood vessel or other tubular organ or structure.It is also sometimes called a stricture ....
Fluosol is the only blood substitute approved to date by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for medical use in the circulatory system (NDA N860909, 1989). The FDA and eight other countries approved Fluosol not for the use of reducing the amount of allogenic blood units transfused but for use during cardiac angioplasty. This procedure was noted to reduce the mycoardial oxygenation leading to ST segment elevation on ECGs, angina, and reduced ejection fraction. Use of Fluosol reduced these symptoms and allowed for longer cardiac antiplasty times. From 1989 to 1992, Fluosol was used in more than 40,000 human subjects. Due to difficulty with the emulsion storage of Fluosol use (frozen storage and rewarming), its popularity declined and its production ended.