Acute Renal Failure after Administration of Low-Molecular-Weight Dextran

THE infusion of low-molecular-weight dextran (Dextran 40) has been associated with acute renal failure in 14 patients.14 Three of these cases, not previously reported but submitted to Pharmacia Laboratories,4 occurred at our institution. All 3 patients had documented adequate urinary output before the acute onset of anuria or oliguria after the dextran infusion. In all these patients the dextran was administered for the management of severe peripheral vascular insufficiency. In reviewing the clinical courses of our patients, we believed that the only underlying process common to all 3 cases was renal hypoperfusion secondary to disease of the small or large . . .