Described are a hydroxyethylstarch, a process for the preparation thereof, a pharmaceutical formulation containing such a hydroxyethylstarch, and the use of the pharmaceutical formulation for the preparation of a volume replacement, a plasma replacement or a plasma volume expander, as well as the use of the pharmaceutical formulation for maintaining normovolemia and/or for improving the macro- and microcirculation and/or for improving the nutritive oxygen supply and/or for stabilizing hemodynamics and/or for improving the volume efficiency and/or for reducing the plasma viscosity and/or for increasing anemia tolerance and/or for hemodilution, especially for therapeutic hemodilution in disturbed blood supply and arterial, especially peripheral arterial, occlusive diseases.