[Hypervolemic hemodilution in pre-eclampsia]

Studying 30 pregnant women, 26 resulted in a pre-eclampsia and 4 in a fetal intrauterine growth retardation. The patients were treated with 500 ml low molecular dextran per hour. We found a hemodilution, an increase of plasma viscosity (5.4%), and a raised cardiac output (32.4%). Resulting from the increased cardiac output we saw a raised systemic oxygen transport capacity in contrast to the hemodilution. The hemodilution is characterized by the increase in stroke volume, whereas heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure are remaining unchanged. The erythrocyte aggregation fell (32.4%) and colloid osmotic pressure raised (27%). Watching the clinical course, we observed a prolongation of gestation above 14 days in ten patients with pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation. One intrauterine death had to be noticed. The data suggest that only an early infusion therapy with low molecular colloids can be successful in the treatment of hemorheological disorders in pre-eclampsia.