[Human albumin or dextran 60 for the restoration of the blood volume, with special reference to the colloid osmotic pressure (author's transl)].

The high cost and limited availability of human albumin as a plasma substitute make it desirable to limit its use to special cases and to replace it by inexpensive and easily obtainable colloids. Patients about to undergo major abdominal surgery were given either human albumin or dextran 60 during the operation and for three days afterwards. Although both groups received the same quantity of colloidal plasma substitutes they differed significantly in respect to the serum albumin and protein concentrations. However, the osmotic pressure, for the maintenance of which the albumin fraction is mainly responsible, showed a marked fall in both groups, indicating that human albumin is not superior to dextran. All other parameters, particularly the clotting mechanism, remained within the normal range and did not differ between the two groups. The results of the study, in conjunction with the known facts regarding the metabolism and function of albumin, suggest that dextran 60 can adequately replace human albumin in a large number of cases. Great importance belongs to measurement of the colloid osmotic pressure.