pentastarch

Pentastarch is a synthetic colloid and a medium-molecular-weight hydroxyethyl starch (HES) derivative with a molecular weight of approximately 200,000 Daltons and a molar substitution of 0.5. It is primarily used as a plasma volume expander to treat or prevent hypovolemia and as a replacement fluid in therapeutic plasma exchange. Pentastarch works by increasing oncotic pressure, thereby drawing fluid into the intravascular space and improving hemodynamics. However, its use in critically ill patients, particularly those with severe sepsis, has been controversial due to findings from the VISEP trial, which linked HES 200/0.5 to increased rates of acute renal failure and mortality compared to crystalloids like Ringer's lactate. Consequently, its use in septic patients is generally avoided due to these safety concerns.

Brand names

Pentaspan

Other names

Hydroxyethyl starch 200/0.5HES 200/0.510% pentastarch