The influence of donor characteristics and preparation methods on the potency of human cryoprecipitate

An investigation of the influence of donor characteristics and preparative procedural variation on the potency of human cryoprecipitate was carried out on 30 whole blood and 139 plasmapheresis donors. Recovery of plasma Factor VIII in cryoprecipitate ranged from 11.2 to 89.4 per cent (average, 38 +/- 18%). The Factor VIII content of bags of cryoprecipitate ranged from 29 to 379 units (average, 111 +/- 77 units). No difference existed between whole blood donors and regular plasmapheresis donors. The only donor characteristic which was related to the potency of cryoprecipitate was the plasma concentration of Factor VIII which varied as much as sixfold on repeated visits of the same donor. The findings indicate that, within the limitations imposed by the regulations of the American Association of Blood Banks and the practicalities of an ordinary blood bank workload, no donor characteristic or variation in preparative procedures was of predictive value in obtaining cryoprecipitate of high potency. The potency of cryoprecipitate from individual donors appears to be related to factors inherent in the donor plasma itself.

[Abnormal origin of 1 of 2 pulmonary arteries from the ascending aorta]

In relation with 4 cases of anomalous branching of one pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta, the main clinical, angiographic, physiopathologic, therapeutic and embryologic features of this malformation were reviewed. It appeared that the natural history of this malformation is a severe one, and only a corrective surgical treatment is liable to secure survival and cure. This anomaly was also encountered, very rarely, in Fallot's tetralogy, and two cases of this combination were reported.

Fibrinogen Philadelphia. A hereditary hypodysfibrinogenemia characterized by fibrinogen hypercatabolism

A new, autosomally inherited abnormal fibrinogen associated with hypofibrinogenemia has been described in several members of a family. Plasma fibrinogen measured either as thrombin-clottable protein or by immunodiffusion revealed a fibrinogen level ranging between 60 and 90 mg/100 ml. The thrombin time of plasma or purified fibrinogen was prolonged and only partially corrected by the addition of calcium. Purified fibrinogen prolonged the thrombin time of normal plasma. Fibrinopeptide release by thrombin was normal in rate and amount, but fibrin monomer aggregation was grossly disturbed, especially in a high ionic strength medium. We have designated this fibrinogen "fibrinogen Philadelphia." Acrylamide gel electrophoresis of mixtures of [121I]normal and [125I]abnormal fibrinogens revealed a slight increase in the anodal mobility of fibrinogen Philadelphia. Similarly, DEAE-cellulose chromatography showed slightly stronger binding of fibrinogen Philadelphia than normal. To elucidate the mechanism responsible for the low plasma fibrinogen concentration, simultaneous metabolic studies of autologous (patient) and homologous (normal) fibrinogen, labeled with 125I and 121I, respectively, were performed in two affected subjects. Autologous fibrinogen half-life was short and the fractional catabolic rate was markedly increased in both family members. In contrast, homologous fibrinogen half-life and fractional catabolic rate were normal. These metabolic studies demonstrate that rapid degradation of fibrinogen Philadelphia is largely responsible for the depressed levels of a plasma fibrinogen. This represents the first example of a mutant plasma protein in which the molecular defect is associated with an altered catabolism.