Evaluation of Sodium Poly-α,L-glutamate as a Plasma Expander. ∗ †

Summary

(1) A synthetic polypeptide, sodium poly-α, L-glutamate (SPG), has been evaluated as a plasma expander by comparing it with dextran in both normovolemic and hypovolemic dogs. (2) SPG at a concentration of 3% was equivalent to 6% dextran as a plasma expander. (3) Further studies with SPG proved it to be too toxic for clinical trial. It was observed to impair cardiac output in the dog, and to cause agglutination and an increase in sedimentation rate of both human and dog erythrocytes. (4) A considerable part of the injected dose remained in the blood at 5 hours after injection and no evidence of further elimination over the next 3 days was observed.