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Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs), the prototype of which is Oxyglobin, can be used as a short-term alternative to red cells for alleviation of hypoxia due to anemia. This product has been approved for use in dogs as a single treatment only. Oxyglobin is composed of polymerized bovine hemoglobin, which carries oxygen free in the plasma (rather than within erythrocytes). Administration of Oxyglobin improves oxygen-carrying capacity for 24 hours, and may acutely alleviate hypoxia due to severe anemia. Oxyglobin is red and will discolor plasma, mucous membranes and urine (see below). The discoloration of plasma interferes with the results of coagulation, hematology and biochemistry tests and therefore, blood should always be collected for clinical pathologic testing before Oxyglobin is given (for more information on this effect, refer to controllable biological variables in the clinical chemistry module). It will increase central venous pressure and produce up to 10-fold increases in AST. Administration of Oxyglobin does not appear to blunt the subsequent (desired) erythropoietic response to the anemia (as shown by a phlebotomy-induced anemia study in Beagle dogs). Oxyglobin should be eliminated from the body within 5-7 days after administration.
The most accurate way to monitor the benefit of Oxyglobin treatment is measurement of Hgb (measures both patient Hgb and Oxyglobin) as the hematocrit and red blood cell counts are reduced from the hemodilutory effects of the compound.
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