PERSISTENCE AND RENAL EXCRETION OF LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT DEXTRAN IN NEWBORNS AND INFANTS

The therapy of all types of shock must aim at a normalization of the peripheral circulation. The changes that take place in this region are decisive for the prognosis and the progress of the disease. Low molecular weight dextrans seem to be best suited because of their desaggregating quality and their influence on the volume. The present investigation was conducted to show the effect of the reduced renal output and the different fluid distribution in newborns and infants on the persistence and excretion of low molecular weight dextran as compared to adults. A new routine microliter determination for dextran was used. It was found that the decrease and the persistence of the dextran serum level was similar to that of adults. It is, however, not clear why the excretion of low molecular weight dextran in newborns is lower than that observed in older infants although the decrease of the serum level takes place in a similar manner. It is thought that a faster metabolic utilization might be the reason for this observation. Because of the fast excretion low molecular weight dextran is recommended as initial therapy" of shock in newborns as well as infants. © 1969 Springer-Verlag."