Method for determining plasma volume, determination of blood volume thereby, and apparatus therefore

摘要

The subject invention provides a method for determining in a subject the volume of plasma in the subject's circulation which comprises introducing into the subject's circulation a predetermined amount of a pharmaceutically-acceptable solution comprising a predetermined quantity of biodegradable, nontoxic macromolecules, which macromolecules are sufficiently larger than endothelial junctions in the subject's capillaries so that they are incapable of permeating the subject's capillaries, and each of which macromolecules is labeled with a detectable marker; obtaining a sample of plasma from the subject; determining the concentration of macromolecules in the sample; and calculating the volume of liquid which would dilute the sample to the concentration so determined. The subject invention also provides a method for determining in a subject the volume of blood in the subject's circulation which comprises determining the volume of plasma in the subject's circulation according to the aforementioned method. The subject invention further provides an apparatus for determining the volume of plasma in a subject's circulation.