Use of Blood Products and Factor Concentrates for Coagulation Therapy

Margaret G Fritsma

doi:10.29074/ascls.16.2.115

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Margaret G Fritsma, MA MT(ASCP) SBB⇑
1. is Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL

Address for correspondence: Margaret G Fritsma MA MT (ASCP) SBB, Associate Professor, School of Health Related Professions, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, 1705 University Boulevard, RMSB Room 450, Birmingham AL 35294-1212. (205) 934-5987. (205) 975-7302 (fax). fritsmam{at}uab.edu

Extract

Appropriate replacement therapy can be life-saving for patients with hemorrhage due to coagulation disorders. Effective treatment depends on accurate diagnosis of the hemostatic defect, choosing the appropriate therapeutic agent, and monitoring the patient's clinical and laboratory response. A variety of traditional blood components and newer factor concentrates are available, each with its own advantages and limitations for use. Indiscriminate use of blood products should be avoided, as it is costly, wastes resources, subjects the patient to unnecessary risks, and produces limited or no clinical benefit.

Fresh frozen plasma Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is the plasma from a unit of whole blood separated by centrifugation and frozen within eight hours of collection from the donor. It is stored at −18 °C or lower for up to 12 months, thawed at 30 to 37 °C and kept at 1 to 6 °C for no longer than 24 hours. FFP contains an average of 1 IU/mL of all the coagulation proteins, including the labile factors V and VIII. (An IU is defined as the amount of coagulation factor present in one mL of normal plasma.)

FFP is primarily used to treat bleeding due to acquired multiple factor deficiencies that occur in liver disease, vitamin K deficiency, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and massive transfusion. Less frequently, it may be used to treat the rare congenital single factor deficiencies of II, V, VII, X, or XI, or deficiencies of protein C or S. (Because of its short half-life of three to six hours,…

ABBREVIATIONS: APTT = activated partial thromboplastin time; DIC = disseminated intravascular coagulation; FFP = fresh frozen plasma; HIT = heparin-induced thrombocytopenia; ITP = idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura; PT = prothrombin time; TTP = thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.