Kinetics of hydroxyethyl starch in horses

In a controlled study, the distribution and elimination kinetics of hydroxyethyl starch as well as clinically relevant parameters were determined in horses. The half-life of the first phase was 5.59 hours, that of the second phase 122.22 hours. During the first phase, hydroxyethyl starch persisted almost exclusively intravascularly. The results of this study are largely in agreement with those in human beings. Thus, routes of elimination, duration of plasma-expanding action, distribution volume and redistribution kinetics in horses and human beings are very similar. However, the elimination kinetics of the second phase and the behavior of serum amylase appear to be equine-specific. Coagulation is barley influenced by the administration of hydroxyethyl starch. The results of this study confirm that hydroxyethyl starch is very suitable for use as a plasma-expander in horses.