Metabolizable plasma substitute

A blood plasma substitute, comprising 1 to 12% by weight of a starch ester in combination with a physiologically acceptable osmotically active electrolyte,

• wherein said starch ester is substituted with acyl groups of monocarboxylic acids with 2 to 6 C atoms, dicarboxylic acids with 2 to 6 C atoms, or mixtures of said mono- and dicarboxylic acids, and wherein said starch ester has a molecular weight (Mw) of>20000 Daltons and a molar substitution of 0.1 to 1.5.

A method for maintaining the colloid osmotic pressure within human or animal intravascular spaces, comprising administering to a patient an amount of a blood plasma substitute effective to maintain the colloid osmotic pressure within human or animal intravascular spaces, wherein said blood plasma substitute comprises a starch ester which is substituted with acyl groups of monocarboxylic acids with 2 to 6 C atoms, dicarboxylic acids with 2 to 6 C atoms or mixtures of said mono- and dicarboxylic acids, and wherein said starch ester has a molecular weight (Mw) of>20000 Daltons and a molar substitution of 0.1 to 1.5.

A method for diluting blood (hemodilution), comprising adding to a volume of blood, an amount of a blood plasma substitute effective to dilute said blood, wherein said blood plasma substitute comprises a starch ester which is substituted with acyl groups of monocarboxylic acids with 2 to 6 C atoms, dicarboxylic acids with 2 to 6 C atoms or mixtures of said mono- and dicarboxylic acids, and wherein said starch ester has a molecular weight (Mw) of>20000 Daltons and a molar substitution of 0.1 to 1.5.