The effect of hydroxyethyl starch on in vitro platelet and granulocyte function.

The effect of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) on granulocyte and platelet functions was assessed. No alteration of granulocyte viability, morphology, phagocytic ability, or bactericidal capacity was detected after incubation with 6 per cent HES at 25 C for two hours. Platelet morphology, size distribution, aggregation, nucleotide and serotonin release, and platelet factor-3 availability were also unchanged after exposure to HES. It is concluded that HES has no adverse effect on cell function and appears to be a suitable adjuvant agent for blood cell component collection.