Hydroxyethyl starch as an experimental adjunct to leukocyte separation by centrifugal means: review of safety and efficacy.

A total of 1,921 leukapheresis procedures have been performed on 532 normal and CML donors at six research institutions, for the purpose of supporting granulocytopenic leukemia patients during infectious episodes. The addition of HES alone or in combination with either etiocholanolone or dexamethasone, resulted in a significant increase in the numbers of leukocytes (granulocytes) harvested by continuous and noncontinuous flow centrifugation. Normal donors participating in these programs were monitored prior to and immediately following each procedure by standard laboratory methods which revealed no serious or abnormal changes occurring as a result of the procedure in those undergoing single or multiple donations with these agents. CML donors tolerated the addition of only HES well, as evidenced by the lack of toxic reactions in three donors undergoing 101 to 121 procedures.