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Blood substitutes: Perfluorochemicals

ShyamM.Garg

Blood substitutes are oxygen-carrying fluids that aim to provide an alternative to the transfusion of blood. Perfluorochemicals are one such class of blood substitutes that are under investigation today. Perfluorochemicals are chemically inert synthetic carbon-fluorine compounds of 8 to 10 carbons in length where the hydrogens have been replaced by fluorine. These compounds have unique properties like chemical inertness and high solubility for oxygen, which make them suitable temporary oxygen carriers. Clinical developments with perfluorocarbon emulsions have shown some positive results. They were found to be efficacious in animal experiments, and in humans they were shown to be well tolerated. Phase 3 studies have also been carried out using perfluorochemicals. These compounds have been found to augment oxygen delivery during surgery when low endogenous hemoglobin levels are expected. They have also been assessed in a variety of haemodilution studies. This review gives a detailed description of perfluorochemicals summarizing their efficacy, side-effects and clinical development. It also lists some of the new potential applications of perfluorochemicals inmedicine.