Medical applications of CARBOHYDRATES

CARBOHYDRATES  

1. Discuss medical applications of following  

a) Heparin 

 Prevention & treatment of venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism
 Treatment of ischaemic heart diseases
 Prevention of clotting in arterial & cardiac surgery
 Stroke after cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, potential cardiogenic re-embolization
 Symptomatic dissection of arteries supplying brain

b) Inulin 

  to measure GFR 

c) Dextran 

 High molecular weight dextran is a plsma volume expander- restores blood plasma lost through severe bleeding
 To treat hypovolemia(as a result of surgery, trauma, injury, burns etc)
 Used in certain IV fluids (intravenous fluids) to solubilize other factors such as iron ( iron dextran) – imferon
 treatment of iron deficiency anaemia
 Used in some eye drops

d) Glycoproteins 

 Used in blood group analysis  (in ABO system)

e) D-glucose 

 Used as a parenteral source of calories & water for parenteral nutrition & hydration
 Hypertonic dextrose injections (>5%) are used to provide adequate calories in minimal volume of water
 10-25% dextrose injections are used to restore blood glucose concentration in treatment of acute symptomatic hypoglycemia
 May be admixed with amino acid injections or other compatible IV fluids to provide parenteral nutrition

f) Cellulose 

 Wound dressing
 Tissue engineering
 Controllable drug delivery system 

 g) Hyaluronic acid 

 Treat osteoarthritis by injecting into joint
 Treat dry, scaly skin caused by dermatitis