Effect of gamma irradiation with 30 Gy on the coagulation system in leukoreduced fresh-frozen plasma.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gamma irradiation with 30 Gy on the coagulation system in leukoreduced fresh-frozen plasma (FFP).


METHODS
In 74 FFP units that had been stored for 352 +/- 103 days below -30 degrees C, the following variables were determined in parallel in an irradiated and not irradiated half: prothrombin time (PT); activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT); thrombin time; antithrombin III; protein C; protein S; von Willebrand factor antigen; ristocetin cofactor; plasminogen-alpha(2)-antiplasmin; the coagulation factors fibrinogen, factor (F)II, FV, FVII, VIII, F IX, FX, FXI, FXII, FXIII, and activated factor XII (FXIIa); D-dimer; fibrin monomer; thrombin-antithrombin complex; prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1+2); plasmin-alpha(2)-antiplasmin complexes (PAPs); and platelet factor 4. The FVII activity ratio was assayed to quantify activation of FVII.


RESULTS
Irradiation with 30 Gy resulted in a reduction of APTT (35.0 +/- 4.1 sec vs. 34.4 +/- 4.1 sec; p = 0.00000006) and PT (89.8 +/- 8.2% vs. 90.7 +/- 8.0%; p = 0.002) and a significant increase of the activities of the coagulation factors FII, FV, FVII, F IX, FX, and FXII. FVIII activity decreased from 118 +/- 31 to 116 +/- 32 percent (p = 0.02). Activation of the coagulation system was shown by an increase in the FVII activity ratio (1.19 +/- 0.29 vs. 1.31 +/- 0.34; p = 0.0000001), FXIIa (0.81 +/- 0.50 ng/mL vs. 0.90 +/- 0.51 ng/mL; p = 0.006), and F1+2 (1.19 +/- 0.20 nmol/L vs. 1.24 +/- 0.20 nmol/L; p = 0.000005) after irradiation with 30 Gy, whereas an increase of PAP (16.2 +/- 11.5 ng/mL vs. 20.2 +/- 12.0 ng/mL; p = 0.0004) demonstrated activation of the fibrinolytic system. No negative influence of irradiation with 30 Gy on inhibitors of coagulation was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Gamma irradiation of leukoreduced FFPs with 30 Gy results in a significant but very weak activation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic system in FFPs.
Weisbach
Volker
V
Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hemostaseology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany. volker.weisbach@trans.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Strobel
Julian
J
Hahn
Brigitte
B
Rödel
Franz
F
Lotter
Michael
M
Zingsem
Jürgen
J
Ringwald
Jürgen
J
Eckstein
Reinhold
R
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D015415:Biomarkers; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002469:Cell Separation; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes; D010949:Plasma / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D015415:Biomarkers