The effect of high molecular dextran on coagulation and metastes

The intravenous injection of high molecular dextran (HMD), increased pulmonary metastases of the carcinosarcoma of Walker 256, from 35 per-cent of the control animals to 64 per-cent of the animals treated with HMD. A significant prolongation of the clotting time and prothrombin; and a decrease in fibrinogen levels platelets, hematocrit and factors II, V, VII and VIII were observed following the infusion of HMD. There was no obvious untoward side effect of HMD in any of the animals studies.