Objectives: To determine the performance of a rapid fluorescent indicator technique for measuring plasma volume (PV). Methods: This was an open-label, observational evaluation of a two-component intravenous visible fluorescent dye technique to rapidly measure PV in 16 healthy subjects and 16 subjects with chronic kidney disease (8 stage 3 and 8 stage 4 CKD), at 2 clinical research sites. The method consisted of a single intravenous injection of 12 mg of a large 150-kDa carboxy-methyl dextran conjugated to a fluorescent rhodamine-derived dye as the PV marker (PVM), and 35 mg of a small 5-kDa carboxy-methyl dextran conjugated to fluorescein, the renal clearance marker. Dye concentrations were quantified 15 min after the injections for initial PV measurements using the indicator-dilution principle. Additional samples were taken over 8 h to evaluate the stability of the PVM as a determinant of PV. Blood volumes (BV) were calculated based on PV and the subject’s hematocrit. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from the plasma concentration data taken over several days using noncompartmental methods (Phoenix WinNonlin®). Linear correlation and Bland-Altman plots were used to compare visible fluorescent injectate-measured PV compared to Nadler’s formula for estimating PV. Finally, 8 healthy subjects received 350 mL infusion of a 5% albumin solution in normal saline over 30 min and a repeat PV determination was then carried out. Results: PV and BV varied according to weight and body surface area, with PV ranging from 2,115 to 6,234 mL and 28.6 to 41.9 mL/kg when weight adjusted. Both parameters were stable for > 6 h with repeated plasma measurements of the PVM. There was no difference between healthy subjects and CKD subjects. Overall, there was general agreement with Nadler’s estimation formula for the mean PV in subjects. A 24-h repeat dose measurement in 8 healthy subjects showed PV variability of 98 ± 121 mL (mean = 3.8%). Additionally, following an intravenous bolus of 350 mL of a 5% albumin solution in normal saline in 8 healthy subjects, the mean (SD) measured increase in PV was 356 (±50.0) mL post-infusion. There were no serious adverse events reported during the study. Conclusions: This minimally invasive fluorescent dye approach safely allowed for rapid, accurate, and reproducible determination of PV, BV, and dynamic monitoring of changes following fluid administration.

Enterococcus faecalis is the third most common organism to cause infective endocarditis and is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. E. faecalis infective endocarditis often presents with a subacute course and with nonspecific constitutional symptoms. Complications related to E. faecalis infective endocarditis are common and include embolic events, abscess formation and pseudoaneurysm formation. Contained annular rupture is a complication of E. faecalis infective endocarditis that, to the authors knowledge, has not been previously described in the literature. Herein, we present an unusual case of a 62-year-old male presenting with classical symptoms of E. faecalis infective endocarditis which resulted in an unusual complication of this condition, a contained annular rupture and the surgical management undertaken to correct this condition.