Abstract
In a double - blind randomized study 12 pregnant patients with hemoconcentration (average hemoglobin higher than 13 g/dl during the second trimester, initial hematocrit above 38%) and a fetal aortal resistance-index higher than 0.75 received either 500 ml hydroxyethylstarch (HES) or 500 ml 0.9% NaCl. Additionally all women received 500 ml 0.9% NaCl. Resistance Indices from waveforms in both the fetal aorta and the uterine arteries showed a reduction during HES - hemodilution while treatment with NaCl achieved no corresponding effect. One possible explanation may be the red cell aggregation-inhibition and plasma viscosity - reduction of hydroxyethylstarch.
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