[Infusiontherapy with colloidal volumesubstitutes (author's transl)]

All colloidal plasma substitutes carry the risk of anaphylactoid complications with a general incidence of 0.03%. This incidence seems low; however severe complications may occur after infusion of colloids, including also human albumin solutions. In spite of the risk of anaphylactoid reactions, however, colloids should not be ommited from volume replacement therapy. When choosing a colloid for volume replacement the solution-specific risk of anaphylactoid complications has to be taken into consideration. From an increasing number of recent case reports the impression of a rising rate of complications has emerged; this impression was not substantiated by a prospective controlled trial performed in 1975. Since dextran in addition to its safe volume effect possesses well documented antithrombotic properties, it cannot be replaced by any other colloid without the addition of another thromboprophylactic agent.