Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers in Trauma Care: The US Multicenter Prehosptial Trial

The current generation of blood substitutes tested in clinical trials are red blood cell (RBC) substitutes, i.e., they are designed primarily to transport oxygen. The products that are now being used in advanced phase clinical trials are derived from hemoglobin and thus are often referred to as hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs). The potential benefits of HBOCs are well known (Table 10.1). The objectives of this brief overview are to outline emerging applications of HBOCs in trauma care and review the scientific background for ongoing patient trials in the USA.