Renal Function Following Dextran Therapy of Hemorrhagic Shock

¹ From the Army Medical Nutrition Laboratory, Denver, Colorado, and the Departments of Physiology and Pathology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois

Renal function was studied in 20 dogs for a period of 9–12 days following the induction of standardized impending hemorrhagic shock. In half of the animals shock was treated with plasma and in the other half with 6% Dextran solution in saline. The renal tests carried out included the measurement of urea and creatinine clearance, effective renal plasma flow and tubular excretory maximum (Tmpah). The results indicate that glomerular filtration rate was not significantly changed either by the experimental procedure or by treatment. Urea clearance showed a moderate but significant increase following treatment with dextran. The renal plasma flow increased about 30% in both groups of animals, undoubtedly as a result of the low hematocrit values during the postshock period. The tubular excretory mass measurement disclosed a mild depression (15–21%) in the Dextran-treated dogs, which was reversible, while an unexplained overcompensation was noted following plasma treatment with values well above those obtained during the control period. These observations are in fundamental agreement with the limited histologic changes observed in the kidneys of these animals. The possibility that a greater depression of renal function may be induced by dextran administration in experiments where pre-existing renal damage exists or renal injury is more severe is not entirely ruled out by this study.