[Retrospective consideration of the incidence of anaphylactoid reactions following administration of Plasmasteril and Longasteril]

Abstract

The frequency of anaphylacotid reactions following the infusion of colloidal volume substitutes has become more transparent in the recent years due to retrospective reports of several hospitals and especially by a prospective multi-clinical study carried out in the Bavarian area. As a contribution towards medicament safety by the manufacturers of infusion solutions, a quantitation of the incidents should be tried. For the period January 1974-June 1977 Dr. E. Fresenius KG has compared the units sold of HES (Plasmasteril) and Dextran 75 (Longasteril 75) with the reported incidents. The frequency of severe anaphylactoid reactions (type III + IV) amounted to 19/458 924 = 0.0041% for Dextran 75 and to 2/550 350 = 0.0004% for hydroxyethyl starch. The frequency of life-threatening incidents with HES proved to be lower than for Dextran 75 by the factor 10.