IN RECENT years a great deal of attention has been directed to the properties of dextran other than those of volume expansion. Considerable emphasis has been given to dextran in low flow situations7,9,17,19 and in thrombotic states.5,13-15 Attention has centered on the antisludging effects of low molecular weight dextran (40,000 molecular weight)1,3,9,10,14,20 and the antithrombotic properties of clinical dextran (75,000 molecular weight). Work in our laboratories has been primarily directed to the evaluation of clinical dextran in conditions which predispose to thrombosis and thrombus propagation.15
We demonstrated that clinical dextran would significantly inhibit intravascular thrombosis after vein grafts of arteries which are not more than 4 mm to external diameter, and an ability to inhibit the propagation of previously formed thrombi in isolated canine jugular veins. We have also reported on its use in the treatment of thrombophlebitis.15
Since both clinical dextran and low molecular