Stability of coagulation factors in feline fresh frozen plasma intended for transfusion after 1 year of storage.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The most common use of plasma transfusion is for haemostatic purposes, but coagulation factor activities in stored feline plasma are unknown. The concentration and stability of coagulation factors I (fibrinogen), II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XII in feline fresh frozen plasma (fFFP) stored for 1 year were studied. METHODS: Fifty-five units of fFFP were produced from 55 fresh whole-blood donations obtained from indoor healthy blood donor cats. Twenty-one units were stored for <2 weeks (T0) and 34 were stored for 1 year (T1). After the completion of storage, specific coagulation factor activities for factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XII were tested using modified one-stage activated partial thromboplastin or prothrombin time assays. Fibrinogen was determined using the Clauss method. RESULTS: Significantly decreased activities were observed for factors II (T0: 101.94%&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;19.06%; T1: 73.23%&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;39.06% [&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.001]), VII (T0: 102.78%&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;24.69%; T1: 60.08%&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;38.17% []), VIII (T0: 77.52%&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;30.39%; T1: 50.32%&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;23.8% [&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.001]), XI (T0: 88.76%&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;22.73%; T1: 66.28%&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;22.2% [&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.001]) and XII (T0: 89.50%&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;21.85%; T1: 55.46%&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;23.18% [&#x2009;<0.001]) when comparing units at time 0 and after 1 year of storage. No significant difference was observed for factors IX (T0: 84.86%&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;29.35%; T1: 71.37%&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;22.23% [&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.064]) and X (T0: 96.24%&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;25.1%; T1: 83.91%&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;49.54% [&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.236]). Unexpectedly, a significant increase was observed for factor V (T0: 71.94%&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;24.14%; T1: 97.89%&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;62.33%;&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.046). Fibrinogen was 2.76&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;1.09&#x2009;g/l at T1. Factors VIII, XII and VII had the lowest mean activities after 1 year. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Although a decrease in most coagulation factors activities was noted with storage, 1-year-old fFFP was haemostatically active in vitro. The most suitable factors for quality control assessment of fFFP are factors VII and VIII. Approximately 13-20&#x2009;ml/kg of fFFP is required to administer a minimum of 10&#x2009;IU/kg coagulation factor activity.