Comparative stability of canine and feline hemostatic proteins in freeze-thaw-cycled fresh frozen plasma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the stability of canine and feline hemostatic proteins in freeze-thaw-cycled (FTC) fresh frozen plasma (FFP).


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Veterinary Teaching Hospital.


METHODS
Nine blood donor dogs and 10 blood donor cats.


METHODS
Whole blood was collected and separated into packed RBC and plasma units according to standard methods. Each unit of plasma was divided into 2 equal aliquots and frozen (-41 °C). One aliquot from each donor (FTC) was then thawed and then refrozen (-41 °C) until time of analysis. The second aliquot (nonfreeze-thaw-cycled; NFTC) remained frozen until time of analysis. The hemostatic proteins assessed included coagulation factors, anticoagulant factors (antithrombin and Protein C), and adhesive proteins (fibrinogen and von Willebrand Factor). The coagulant activities of factors II, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII were measured in modified one-stage activated partial thromboplastin time or prothrombin time assays. Antithrombin and Protein C activities were measured in chromogenic substrate assays. Clottable fibrinogen was measured via the Clauss method, and von Willebrand Factor concentration (vWF:Ag) was measured in an ELISA. A paired t-test was utilized to identify differences in factor activity or concentration between FTC FFP and NFTC FFP.


RESULTS
No clinically or statistically significant differences (all P>0.05) were identified between FTC FFP and NFTC FFP.


CONCLUSIONS
Refreezing FFP within 1 hour of initial thawing appeared to have no deleterious effects on the hemostatic protein activity or content of that unit. Transfusion of FTC FFP is expected to provide the recipient with comparable replacement of hemostatic proteins as FFP that has remained frozen.
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Page E
PE
Yaxley
Matthew W
MW
Beal
L Ari
LA
Jutkowitz
Joe G
JG
Hauptman
Marjory B
MB
Brooks
Anne S
AS
Hale
Alice
A
Parr
D000818:Animals; D001793:Blood Preservation; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D002415:Cats / Q000097:blood*; D004285:Dogs / Q000097:blood*; D005615:Freezing; D006490:Hemostatics; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry*
D001798:Blood Proteins; D006490:Hemostatics