[Effect of hemodilution with plasma protein solution and hydroxyethyl starch on plasma fibronectin]

In nine adult patients at least 24 hours prior to vascular surgical operations about 25 p.c. of circulating blood volume was replaced by either 6 p.c. hydroxyethyl starch (HES) or 5 p.c. plasmaprotein solution (PPS). Following haemodilution, a proportional significant decrease of plasmafibronectin (PFN) was observed; when PPS was administered, levels were significantly higher than expected due to withdrawal of blood. Serumalbumin was decreased in the same way, however, in patients receiving HES it rose significantly within 24 hours. It is concluded that changes are essentially only dilutional and when haemodilution technique is used, also postoperatively no dramatic reduction of PFN following uncomplicated surgery has to be anticipated.