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Emerg Med J 2006;23:193-194 doi:10.1136/emj.2005.024034
  • Original Article

Does calcium cause the different effects of Gelofusine and Haemaccel on coagulation?

  1. T J Coats1,
  2. M Heron2
  1. 1Academic Unit of Emergency Medicine, Leicester University, Leicester, UK
  2. 2Emergency Department, Bart’s and The Royal London Hospital, London, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Professor T J Coats
 Professor of Emergency Medicine, Leicester University, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Infirmary Square, Leicester, LE1 5WW, UK; t.coats{at}virgin.net
  • Accepted 11 July 2005

Abstract

Background: Gelofusine (which does not contain calcium) has a greater effect on coagulation than Haemaccel (which contains 6.25 mmol/l of calcium). This in vitro study was performed to assess whether calcium might be the cause of the different effects on coagulation.

Methods: Three solutions were compared; (a) Gelofusine, (b) Gelofusine with calcium added to 6.25 mmol/l, and (c) Haemaccel. Thromboelastography (Sonoclot) was used to examine whole blood coagulation, with time to peak clot weight as the primary outcome measure.

Results: There was no significant difference between the Gelofusine containing solutions. Both Gelofusine solutions gave a greater impairment of coagulation than the Haemaccel solution.

Conclusions: The different effect of Gelofusine on coagulation compared with Haemaccel does not seem to be related to the different calcium contents of the solutions.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: none declared

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