The infusion of hemoglobin solutions to replace lost blood has been tested in experiments on both animals (2-15) and man (4,(16)(17)(18)(19). Beneficial results have been obtained in restoring the volume of circulating blood, in carrying oxygen to the tissues (3), and in supplying iron for regeneration of erythrocytes and nitrogen for regeneration of blood and tissue proteins (12). For infusions hemoglobin solutions have advantages over whole blood in that the former do not need to be typed and cross-matched, and that longer preservation is possible. However, in both patients and'~mlmMs, some of the infusions have been followed by unfavorable results, particularly on the kidneys. It has appeared uncertain whether these effects have been due to injury by the hemoglobin itself, caused during its rather rapid excretion through the kidneys, to admiTture of methemoglobin with the active hemoglobin (hemoglobin capable of reversible combination with oxygen), to the presence of cell stroma material in the hemoglobin solutions used, or to bacterial contamination or products.The present work was undertaken to provide a method whereby large volumes of hemoglobin solution could be prepared in a sterile state, free from stroma material, of electrolyte content approximating that of plasma, and capable of preservation without change of the active hemoglobin to methemoglobin.
Analytical Methods and TestsThe carbon monoxide-blnding capacity of the hemoglobin solutions was determined by a modification of the method of Van Slyke and Hiller (20) described by Van Slyke, Hiller,