[Long term tolerance of highly dosed infusions of hydroxylethylstarch and dextran 60 in normovolemic rabbits].

Normovolemic rabbits were administered 50 ml of 6% hydroxyethyl starch in saline, 6% dextran 60 in saline solutions 5 days a week over a period of 3 weeks. Only 2 rabbits of the hydroxyethyl starch or the dextran treated series and 4 rabbits of the saline series survived 3 weeks. In all 3 series large amounts of fluid in the serous cavities and edema of the lungs due to the overload of fluid have been observed. Severe hydropic changes were found in the liver and kidneys of the hydroxyethyl starch and dextran treated series, but not after prolonged administration of saline alone. According to the findings presented there is no difference between the effects due to the prolonged administration of extremely high doses of hydroxyethyl starch and dextran 60.