dextran + glucose

dextran + glucose is a combination product composed of dextran (a high-molecular-weight glucose polymer used as a plasma volume expander and antithrombotic) and glucose (dextrose, used to provide calories and osmotic support). This drug is primarily used as an intravenous solution for plasma volume expansion in hypovolemia due to trauma, surgery, burns, or dehydration when blood products are unavailable or not feasible. Dextran acts osmotically to retain fluid in the vascular compartment, improves microcirculation, and has antithrombotic effects by reducing platelet aggregation and blood viscosity. Glucose, in this formulation, serves as an energy source and osmotic agent. The combination is not commonly used today due to safer alternatives but is approved for particular specialized scenarios such as microsurgical procedures and as a hemodiluting agent.

Brand names

Dextran 40 in 5% Dextrose

Other names

dextran plus glucosedextran and glucosedextran in dextrosedextran in glucose