Artificial Blood: HBOC-201 Does Well In Clinical Trial
Biopure Corporation recently reported their clinical trial information about HBOC-201, an artificial blood which contains a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier. The artificial blood is from a purified bovine source. HBOC-201 can be stored at room temperature for up to three years and does not have to be matched to a patient’s blood type.
In their trials, Biopure compared the use of artificial blood and regular blood during orthopedic surgeries. They designated the patients into three main groups: moderate transfusion needs, higher transfusion needs and regular blood. Each patient receiving the blood substitute could initially receive one unit of blood, and a maximum of 10 units of blood per every six days. The patients receiving regular blood could receive an unlimited number of transfusions.
The Biopure researchers found that those who had received the blood substitute were 59% less likely to need a blood transfusion later on. They also noted that the blood substitute worked best for those needing moderate amounts of blood transfusion and under the age 80. The reason for the above 80 population’s not-so-favorable reaction to the blood substitute can be related to their more acute health problems and need for higher transfusion rates.
Negative side effects due to the use of HBOC-201 were found to be skin discoloration similar to jaundice, elevation of blood pressure, and the increase in troponin and lipase enzyme levels. These results were also found to be only temporary. Other complications involving cardiac and central nervous systems were found in older patients due to previous diagnosis of heart failure or under-treatment.
The mortality rate for moderate transfusion needs was one percent. Higher transfusion needs had five percent mortality. Those who received regular blood transfusions had a morality rate of three percent.
The use of blood substitutes will be helpful for patients whose immune systems do not accept the red blood cells from donor blood, where religion does not allow blood transfusions and in situations were blood is not available, such as third world countries and military trauma.
I found this article interesting because it takes away another restraint on human survival. Because the blood substitute does not have to be refrigerated and is universal for blood type, it takes away the crisis with certain patients when there is a need for a blood transfusion and the blood type doesn’t match or there are not enough blood supplies.
http://www.scientificblogging.com/news_releases/artificial_blood_hboc_201_does_well_in_clinical_trial
In their trials, Biopure compared the use of artificial blood and regular blood during orthopedic surgeries. They designated the patients into three main groups: moderate transfusion needs, higher transfusion needs and regular blood. Each patient receiving the blood substitute could initially receive one unit of blood, and a maximum of 10 units of blood per every six days. The patients receiving regular blood could receive an unlimited number of transfusions.
The Biopure researchers found that those who had received the blood substitute were 59% less likely to need a blood transfusion later on. They also noted that the blood substitute worked best for those needing moderate amounts of blood transfusion and under the age 80. The reason for the above 80 population’s not-so-favorable reaction to the blood substitute can be related to their more acute health problems and need for higher transfusion rates.
Negative side effects due to the use of HBOC-201 were found to be skin discoloration similar to jaundice, elevation of blood pressure, and the increase in troponin and lipase enzyme levels. These results were also found to be only temporary. Other complications involving cardiac and central nervous systems were found in older patients due to previous diagnosis of heart failure or under-treatment.
The mortality rate for moderate transfusion needs was one percent. Higher transfusion needs had five percent mortality. Those who received regular blood transfusions had a morality rate of three percent.
The use of blood substitutes will be helpful for patients whose immune systems do not accept the red blood cells from donor blood, where religion does not allow blood transfusions and in situations were blood is not available, such as third world countries and military trauma.
I found this article interesting because it takes away another restraint on human survival. Because the blood substitute does not have to be refrigerated and is universal for blood type, it takes away the crisis with certain patients when there is a need for a blood transfusion and the blood type doesn’t match or there are not enough blood supplies.
http://www.scientificblogging.com/news_releases/artificial_blood_hboc_201_does_well_in_clinical_trial
posted by BrittanyReinemund at 11:51 AM
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