Blood volume expander

Dextran as a blood volume expander

In intravenous solutions, dextran can function both as blood volume expanders and as a means of parenteral nutrition. Dextran provides an osmotically neutral fluid that, once in the body, is metabolised by cells into glucose and free water. Dextran is also used to replace lost blood in emergency situations where replacement blood is not available.
Dextran 1, in combination with higher molecular weight dextran, has a long and well-documented history as a safer API than, for example, HES for infusion fluids.