HYDRAVOL IV™ contains hydroxyethyl starch in a colloidal solution that expands plasma volume when administered intravenously.
- Hydroxyethyl starch is a derivative of thin boiling waxy corn starch, which mainly consists of a glucose polymer (amylopectin)
- Substitution of hydroxyethyl groups on the glucose units of the polymer reduces the normal degradation of amylopectin by a-amylase in the body
- Not a substitute for red blood cells or coagulation factors in plasma