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Fluosol: therapeutic failure in severe anemia
P B Kale1, G E Sklar, L A Wesolowicz
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|December 1, 1993
Summary
Fluosol, a perfluorochemical blood substitute, was administered to a patient with severe anemia but did not improve outcomes. Its use in managing critical anemia is not recommended due to poor survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Hematology
Background:
- Severe anemia presents significant management challenges, particularly in patients who decline blood transfusions.
- Perfluorochemicals like Fluosol have been explored as oxygen-carrying blood substitutes.
Observation:
- A Jehovah's Witness with severe postpartum anemia received Fluosol, hetastarch, iron dextran, and erythropoietin.
- The patient presented with critically low hemoglobin (11 g/L) and hematocrit (0.31).
- Despite interventions, the patient did not survive.
Findings:
- Fluosol administration did not alter the poor prognosis in this case of severe anemia.
- Reported survival rates for patients with hemoglobin < 20 g/L are extremely low, irrespective of Fluosol use.
Implications:
- The theoretical promise of Fluosol as a blood substitute is not supported by this case report.
- Current evidence does not support the recommendation of Fluosol for managing severe anemia.