Artificial organs
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The safety and efficacy of a conjugate of pyridoxalated hemoglobin and polyethylene glycol (pyridoxalated PEG hemoglobin) were evaluated after administration to rats. The LD50 (lethal dose for 50% survival of group) of pyridoxalated polyethylene glycol (PEG) hemoglobin was greater than 200 ml/kg. ⋯ However, these values were in the normal range after 3 days. With greater than 90% exchange-transfusion, all rats exchange-transfused with pyridoxalated PEG hemoglobin survived for greater than 2 weeks in contrast to the death of all the rats exchange-transfused with stroma-free hemoglobin or albumin.