A new plasma expander is approved

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Voluven, a 6% hydroxyethyl starch colloid solution for injection, to prevent and treat dangerously low blood volume (hypovolaemia). It is made by Fresenius Kabi in Norway, and the starch has an average molecular weight of 130,000.

Voluven expands the plasma in the circulation and draws fluid into the capillaries. It shouldn't be used in people allergic to hydroxyethyl starch, patients on dialysis, people with kidney failure not caused by low blood volume, bleeding in the brain, fluid overload, or high blood sodium or chloride. The most common side effects were nausea and itching.

Update: in 2013 the FDA and European regulators restricted hydroxyethyl starch solutions after studies showed they raise the risk of kidney injury and death in critically ill patients, especially those with sepsis.