“…CO has antiinflammatory (Ozaki et al, 2012) and vasodilator effects (Leffler et al, 2011). Conjugation with PEG increases the molecular radius to minimize extravasation, increases the circulating half-life of the product (Conover et al, 1997;Conover et al, 1996;Tsai et al, 2006), and increases plasma viscosity (Wettstein et al, 2003). Plasma viscosity may be important for maintaining shear stress-induced NO production by the endothelium and thus may be another mechanism, in addition to the CO, to promote vasodilation (Tsai et al, 2005).…”