Resuscitation with a blood substitute causes vasoconstriction without nitric oxide scavenging in a model of arterial hemorrhage.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine if a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier, HBOC-201 (Hemopure, Biopure Corp), alters endothelial function and nitric oxide physiology when used for hemorrhagic shock.

Study Design: Female swine (Sus scrofa) underwent catheterization of the femoral, circumflex iliac, and pulmonary arteries. Control animals (n = 3) underwent instrumentation only. Study animals underwent hemorrhage to mean arterial pressure of 30 +/- 5 mmHg, were maintained for 45 minutes, and resuscitated to the baseline mean arterial pressure for 4 hours. Resuscitation fluids included: shed blood (SB) (n = 8), lactated Ringers plus shed blood (LRSB) (n = 8), and HBOC (n = 8). At baseline, 1, and 4 hours after resuscitation, acetylcholine was infused into the proximal iliac artery and endothelial-dependent relaxation was measured with M-mode ultrasonography. Nitric oxide levels were determined using a chemiluminescent assay.

Results: HBOC, SB, and LRSB provided equivalent survival and resuscitation as measured by mean arterial pressures (65.3 +/- 2.48 mmHg); pulmonary artery mean pressures (15.8 +/- 0.84 mmHg); and lactate levels (1.22 +/- 0.19 mmol/L). HBOC group animals required the lowest resuscitation volume (SB, 41.5 +/- 3.5 mL/kg; LRSB, 76.4 +/- 1.1 mL/kg, HBOC, 14.6 +/- 2.1 mL/kg, p < 0.001). Response to acetylcholine was normal in the SB and LRSB groups, but the HBOC group had diminished acetylcholine response (29.5% endothelial-dependent relaxation end resuscitation, p < 0.001). Arterial nitric oxide levels did not differ between study groups (p = 0.69).

Conclusions: HBOC might be an alternative resuscitation agent in patients with hemorrhagic shock. Resuscitation with HBOC requires less volume than blood or crystalloid. These data suggest HBOC-201 has a vasoconstrictive effect that cannot be attributed soley to nitric oxide scavenging.