HES no longer used in critically ill patients

HES solutions must no longer be used to treat patients with sepsis (bacterial infection in the blood) or burn injuries or critically ill patients, because of an increased risk of kidney injury and mortality. The decision was taken by the EMA’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) after completing its review of hydroxyethyl-starch solutions (HES) solutions following an assessment of new information and commitments from companies for additional studies and risk minimisation activities.  But HES solutions may continue to be used in patients to treat hypovolaemia (low blood volume) caused by acute blood loss, provided that appropriate measures are taken to